Dr Paul Hurlstone, Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield has won a prestigious Cancer Innovation Award, a category within the Medical Futures Innovation Awards 2007.
Dr Hurlstone won the Best Diagnostic in the Cancer Innovation Award for his work using the Pentax Confocal Endomicroscopy system in the detection of Colorectal Cancer. This new technology, developed jointly by Pentax Lifecare and Optiscan Imaging, enables endoscopists in vivo microscopic observation of mucosal tissues and dramatic subsurface imaging to a depth of approximately 250 microns.
This allows them to perform real-time virtual biopsies and in many cases, the need to take a physical biopsy can be removed. Dr Hurlstone was also a nominee for the Best National Health Innovation Award, supported by the NHS National Institute for Health Research and National Innovation Centre. This was also for his work with the PENTAX Confocal Endomicroscopy system. A detailed insight into Dr Hurlstone’s ground-breaking work was recently featured in the June issue of Clinical Services Journal (p45-47).
