At the recent IDTechEx printed Electronics USA event there was an update on use of OLEDs in skin cancer treatment. The paper was prepared by I.D.W. Samuel, A. McNeill and M. Camacho Lopez of the Organic Semiconductor Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, UK and J. Ferguson and A. Lesar of the Department of Dermatology, Photobiology Unit, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK.
Skin cancer is rapidly growing - doubling every 10-15 years. It affects 15% of UK, 40% of America and, 75% of the Australian population. Currently 40,000 patients develop basal cell carcinomas (BCC) each year in the UK and 1,000,000 in the US. Around 90% of BCCs develop on the face and neck, usually requiring unpleasant hospital-based treatments.
Many skin cancers can be treated by light in combination with a drug (known as photodynamic therapy), but current light sources are large and cumbersome, and a lengthy hospital visit is required.
Advances in organic semiconductors to make a wearable 'sticking plaster' light source for the treatment of many skin cancers has been developed by Professor Ifor Samuel and his team of researchers. The new treatment which will be more comfortable and convenient for the patient by enabling treatment by doctors and family potentially from the home is now under license by Lumicure Ltd.
Ian Muirhead, CEO of Lumicure Ltd advised Printed Electronics World "We are making excellent progress and raised £2.5m of Venture Capital Funding in January 2008 from Longbow Capital and the Scottish Venture Fund."
He says they are now developing the skin cancer treatment, designing it to medical device standards and hope to have it on the market in Q4 2009 furthermore they now seek distribution partners for the product.
The patented technology was a finalist in the International Academy of Science's awards for Outstanding Technology of the Year 2007.
A light source for acne treatment is also currently under development by Lumicure.
Also see an earlier Printed Electronics World article Light-emitting Sticking Plaster in UK to Treat Common Skin Cancers.
If you missed Printed Electronics USA then attend Printed Electronics Europe 2009.
