IIT Ropar Researchers Develop High-Resolution Screening System For Early Detection of Breast Cancer, Osteoporosis

The researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar have developed an infrared imaging technique for early detection of osteoporosis and breast cancer, reports Times of India.

The technology involves non-invasive and non-ionising infrared thermology. The postdoctoral researchers, Dr Vanita Arora and Dr Geetika Dua under the supervision of Dr Ravibabu Mulaveesala, carried out detailed analysis on bone having different density variations, with tissue, skin and muscle over layers.

Dr Ravibabu said that not only the technique was cheaper and more economical, but also has more patient-friendly remote screening mechanism as compared to MRI, mammography and ultrasound.

In case of breast cancer, the technology can be used for estimation of tumour size and depth along with its stage. It also provides information about bone density predicting the severity of osteoporosis disease in the human bone. The researchers said that the technique can be used on all kinds of breasts, dense as well as fatty. The technique is also safe for breastfeeding and pregnant women.

The indigenous high-resolution screening system took around two years to be developed at the cost of around Rs 50 lakh.