A Novel Dermoscopic Probe for Determining Elasticity Measurements of the Skin Erica Bozeman 1, Markesha Cook 1, Stephanie Cruz 1 Advisor: Michael Miga, PhD Biomedical Modeling Laboratory 1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University Fabrication Circular, cylindrical and rectangular membranes casted and molded using liquid urethane rubbers, Vytaflex 10 and Vytaflex 60 Testing Average Dimensions (height x diameter) Indentation  Vytaflex 10: 3.6 x 36.6 mm  Vytaflex 60: 3.3 x 36.6 mm Compression  Vytaflex 10: 10.3 x 16.0 mm  Vytaflex 60: 14.5 x 16.0 mm Tests completed using the Bose Electroforce© Fabrication  Created a solid model file of device dimensions using SolidWorks software  Prototyped using a Z Corp. 3D Printer  Software “slices” file into thousands of thin layers  Physical model is built one layer at a time  Ink-jet print heads deposit binder into powder to create layers  Process repeated layer by layer Device Dimensions  S215 Force Sensor (l x w): 27.9 x 5.9 mm  Voice Coil: 26mm diameter Testing  Tensile stretching on rectangular phantom skin  Translational motion caused by voice coil  Force sensor reads forces created during stretch  MATLAB © used to determine the elastic modulus of the phantom skin based on the device’s measurement Our Device  Structural alterations present as differences in the skin elasticity which are potential indicators of the skin’s health.  We propose that skin lesion elasticity can be measured using a device which applies a mechanical force by stretching the skin. This device can be used in conjunction with biopsy to diagnose skin cancer.  Design a device that can safely stretch the skin by a few millimeters  Conduct skin phantom tests as a means of comparing measurements obtained from device and compare to literature values for normal and skin cancer moles.  Develop systematic method of measuring skin mechanical properties from device  Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.  Observation of skin moles can help assess presence and progression of skin cancer  Types of skin cancer:  Melanoma: less common, higher mortality rate  Nonmelanoma: most common type of skin cancer, but low mortality  Skin cancer is 95% curable when detected early and treated. Disadvantages  Clinical Observationexperience dependent  Biopsycostly when overly used  Dermoscopytime consuming, expensive  Serial Photographytime consuming, expensive, specialized Skin Moles: Sizes: 2 mm – 2 cm Depth of melanoma: 1 mm - > 4 mm Color: pink to purple  The trend in new cases indicate that Americans over the age of 65 account for a large percentage of new cases (females 14% and males 22%), yet they make up only 5.5% of population.  Estimated total annual cost for treating NMSC was $426 million for Medicare population and $650 million for total US population.  The cost of treating cancer depends upon the stage of progression: advanced ($168,000), early ($1800), and screening ($700)  An efficient, user friendly device will be more accessible to general physicians and thus more accessible to the general public resulting in earlier detection for a wider range of the population. Problem Statement Objective Background Current Methods of Detection Figure 1. Atypical mole indicative of skin cancer. Market Potential Phantom Skin Experiments Device Validation Results Discussion Conclusion Future Work and Testing Acknowledgements Table 1. Calculation of the Elastic Modulus (kPa) of Vytaflex-10 and Vytaflex-60 using the Bose electroforce © to conduct independent testing. Independent Testing Results  We would like to give special thanks to Jao Ou, Stephanie Barnes, Dr. Paul King, Taya Furmanski, and John Fellenstein. Table 2. Forces (N) registered by the force transducer during the device testing. Table 3. Elastic Modulus (kPa) calculated using the aforementioned Matlab program. Independent Testing  Elastic modulus was determined for Vytaflex-10 ( kPa) and Vytaflex-60 ( kPa).  Testing supported literature’s claim of a six-fold difference between the modulus of materials. Device Testing  Matlab code closely simulated the dermoscopic probe and calculated a mean elastic modulus for Vytaflex-10 ( / kPa) and Vytaflex-60 (103 +/-21.5 kPa).  Testing showed the device’s sensitivity to the presence of an inclusion in the membrane  The test results demonstrates the dermoscopic probe’s potential for measuring the skin’s elastic properties. However, modifications are still required in order to increase the device’s efficiency.  Miniaturize probe and modify for use in clinical setting  Increase the transducer’s sensitivity  Moh’s surgery  Trials on in vivo skin membranes  Correlate the skin’s modulus to a certain health condition  A device which can decrease the cost of testing and increase the sensitivity of current testing methods has a high demand.  A lightweight, easily accessible, noninvasive method of testing skin lesions will increase patient comfort. Figure 3. Indentation mold with Vytaflex-10 and Vytaflex-60. Figure 4. Vytaflex-10 and Vytaflex-60 setup Figure 5. Bose Electroforce Figure 6. Compression Setup Figure 2. Cost of cancer treatment by location Figure 8. Our device prototype with the (A) voice coil and (B) force sensor. Figure 9(a). Simulation of dermoscopic probe using MATLAB © for the control phantom skin. Figure 9(b). Simulation of dermoscopic probe using MATLAB© for membrane with 1.0 cm mole. Figure 7. Our device SolidWorks file A BABA