Electrical Impedance Device Assists Colposcopy Screening

An innovative device uses electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to provide accurate and real-time results in the detection of neoplasias in cervical disease.

The ZedScan I device is designed to enable colposcopists to better target a biopsy site by providing a more accurate assessment of the cervix using EIS to measure the resistivity of cells, and so detect changes as cells progress from normal to precancerous and then to cancerous. Benefits of the device include better differentiation between high-grade and low-grade abnormalities, reduction in the number of biopsies required, better predictive values when compared to colposcopic impression, and the potential to move to a "See and Treat" model for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3 diagnosis.


The ZedScan I will also enable colposcopists to better target a biopsy site by providing a more accurate assessment of the cervix, thereby reducing the number of unnecessary diagnostic biopsies. The device consists of a cordless handheld device and a base unit, together with a single-use disposable sleeve. Among the features of the device are wipe-clean surfaces, an on-board user interface, built-in quality control tests, and real time results that can be transferred to a personal computer (PC) for data storage and report generation. The ZedScan I device is a product of Zilico (Sheffield, United Kingdom).

“ZedScan I has the potential to make a significant impact on how women are managed within the cervical cancer pathway,” said Sameer Kothari, CEO of Zilico. “This potential has clearly been recognized as we've received significant from across the globe over the last few months.”

Currently, the cervical cancer diagnostic pathway requires that women have an initial screening test and, if any abnormality is identified, they are then referred for a more detailed examination carried out using colposcopy binocular microscopy, a relatively subjective procedure to distinguish those who need a biopsy confirm the presence of high grade pre-cancerous lesions; clinicians often take multiple biopsies to confirm disease due to the inherent subjectivity.

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