AI Specialists Manchester Imaging Win UK Innovation Scholars Grant to Develop AI-enhanced Skin Cancer Detection Capability for Michelson Diagnostics’ VivoSight OCT Scanner

AI specialists Manchester Imaging Ltd have won a UK Innovation Scholars grant to support the parttime secondment of AI expert Tom Williams to skin scanner specialists Michelson Diagnostics Ltd over two years.

Tom is working with Michelson to develop AI software that will process images of basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer affecting millions worldwide, scanned by dermatologists using the innovative VivoSight™ OCT scanner already manufactured by Michelson Diagnostics.

The AI will rapidly detect markers for basal cell carcinoma skin cancer that may be present in an OCT scan and show them to the dermatologist enabling them to make a faster, easier and potentially more accurate diagnostic decision than would be possible from them instead manually reading the images, which normally takes time and experience to master.

The first results from the project are expected before the end of 2021, and Michelson is already seeking clinical partners to help evaluate the prototype AI software and advise on its application in clinical practice.

Michelson’s VivoSight Dx OCT scanner is the world’s leading Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) skin imaging system which can see over 1 mm deep into the skin to produce images of skin structural elements, vascularity and pathology. It has CE mark, FDA 510(k) and TGA clearance for use in Europe, USA and Australia. In Germany an estimated 120,000 patients have been scanned to date using VivoSight.

Manchester Imaging Limited, an AI software spinout from The University of Manchester has, through its first CE-marked product AssistDent, developed and commercialized successful AI algorithms for analysing dental radiographs. AssistDent enhances the diagnostic capability of dental radiographs enabling improved detection of early tooth decay by dentists, leading to more preventive dentistry.