High- Sensitivity Diamond-tipped Thermal Sensor for Non-Invasive Skin Cancer Detection: Development and Validation – Part B
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study reports experimental validation of a high-sensitivity diamond-tipped thermal product sensor for non-invasive skin cancer detection, complementing the design and modelling presented in Part A of this paper. Calibration with air and water confirmed baseline sensitivity improvements of an order of magnitude compared with previous thin-film based thermal product sensors. Accuracy of the measurement system was established through glycerol validation, while repeatability studies across multiple sessions yielded coefficients of variation <1%. Measurement uncertainty analysis showed combined uncertainties of 0.16-0.32°C in the temperature measurement and 0.26 in the thermal product evaluation. This comfortably exceeds diagnostic detection thresholds. Predictive modelling with interval PLS demonstrated excellent generalisation and linearity (RMSECV = 17.86 J/(m2 K s0.5); R² = 0.999), further validated against blind samples. Preliminary porcine testing confirmed clear differentiation of skin, fat, muscle, and fascia. Together, these results validate the robustness and demonstrate clinical potential of diamond-tipped thermal sensors as a development for real-time, non-invasive cancer diagnostics. Keywords: Thermal product sensor; Diamond substrate; Skin cancer detection; Non-invasive diagnostics; Thermal properties; Biomedical sensing
Author: Nathalie Nick1*, Joe Kirkup1, Parv Sains2 and Kam Chana1
Institution: University of Oxford
Language: English
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7082145959
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