New biopsy innovation improves reliability of cancer diagnosis; wins first prize in pitching competition

“The new type of needle is simple, disposable, and competitively priced. It is also easy for doctors to take into use”, says Jouni Rantanen,project director of commercialization.

With the help of an imaging method the needle is guided to the right spot to take the tissue sample.

“Our starting point with this invention was generation of new technology allowing reducing the size of the devices. In clinical use it is important that the device is easy and practical to operate”, says Professor Heikki Nieminen.

The AdvaNeedle team includes Heikki Nieminen, the head of the Medical Ultrasonics Laboratory, Jouni Rantanen, who is responsible for the commercialisation of the project, Saif Bunni, who is responsible for development work of the needle, Yohann Le Bourlout, who handles the development of the device, Emanuele Perra, who is responsible for testing of the method, while Gösta Ehnholm, who holds the title of Docent, is the project's adviser, and is also currently working together with Harvard University in the development of ultrasound. Other members of the team include Professor Anu Airaksinen from the University of Helsinki, and from the beginning of 2020, Dr Nicholas Hayward.

Cancer is the second-most common cause of death in the world. According to the World Health Organisation about 18 million new cancer diagnoses occur each year and the number is expected to rise to 24 million by 2030. The average risk to get cancer during a person's lifetime is about 38 percent.