Development of a smart needle integrated with a micro-structured impedance sensor for the detection of breast cancer

The aim of this research is to develop a novel medical device for the detection of breast cancer within the clinical setting. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide and the use of population-based screening programmes has increased the demand for more sensitive and specific detection tools to limit the number of patients being misdiagnosed or over-treated. This research will focus on the development of a minimally invasive diagnostic probe for the determination and localisation of cancerous tissue within the structure of the breast. Gold microelectrodes fabricated on a silicon substrate were developed in Tyndall National Institute and used to obtain electrical impedance recordings from ex vivo tissue samples of both animal and human origin. Functional prototype devices have been produced using both photolithography and metal deposition processes to pattern the dual-electrode structures. The probes have been characterised using a series of techniques including CV and EIS. The prototype probes have been shown to be reproducibly manufactured and the electrochemical response of the electrodes has been very positive to date. A study of the electrical impedance response of animal tissues (beef, lamb and pork) has shown that a variety of tissues (fat, muscle and liver) can be discriminated using the prototype gold electrodes for the detection of discrete electrical responses. There are a number of potential uses for this device including improved biopsy localisation, cancer-free border determination during lumpectomy and the possibility of DCIS determination without invasive surgery. It is envisaged that this novel device would be used primarily as an adjunct to the gold-standard of x-ray mammography detection of breast cancer tumours during the routine screening process.