Israeli Tech Allows For Instant Cervical Cancer Readings In Third World Women

By David Shamah, The Times of Israel February 27, 2015 2 minutes

This article was first published on The Times of Israel and was re-posted with permission.

An Israeli medical device to check for the presence of cervical cancer could be an important factor in reducing the rate of death from the disease in the developing world.

Biop Medical founder and CEO Ilan Landesman believes that his examination device — the only one that provides instant readings and results on whether a woman is suffering from cervical cancer — could be a boon to women everywhere, especially in places like Africa.

“The Biop device is perfect for any setting, especially for doctors and nurses in rural areas who don’t have — and can’t afford — the fancy equipment usually needed to test for cervical cancer,” said Landesman. “It’s a big-data solution that can replace traditional methods of examining for cervical cancer.”

Cervical cancer is the fourth-biggest cancer killer of women worldwide, but where in the world a woman lives is a very important factor in whether or not she will survive the disease. As with so many other major diseases, early detection is an important factor in cures. But the vast majority of women in the world do not have access to doctors to even begin the process of checking for cervical cancer — much less the numerous follow-up visits that are necessary.

Testing usually commences with a Pap smear, which involves collecting cells from the cervix for analysis. The cells are collected using a speculum and sent on for analysis, which could take several weeks, even in a Western urban hospital.