All across the globe, the iPhone has been a popular tool for many. In the UK, they are now being used by the NHS in trial tests to determine whether patients have throat cancer. Sky news reports that a special lens adaptor is added to iPhones, which allows it to view down a patient's throat, recording on video what normally would require an endoscopy procedure performed by an otolaryngologist.
Endoscope-i Ltd. is the UK manufacturer of the Edoscope-i. The device uses a standard endoscopy tube attached to the camera lens on an iPhone with a proprietary adaptor. An app downloaded to the iPhone assists in documentation. Trained nurses perform the procedure, which can be done in a clinical setting, not a hospital. The resulting video is sent to a specialist, who reviews and determines if throat cancer is present. So far, it is reported that 1800 patients learned that they do not have cancer, but about 100 have been found to have the disease. The good thing- this device provides a better opportunity for early detection, saving lives.
