Kiwi helps design camera to detect melanoma

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A New Zealand-designed camera with advanced photographic technology has been created to help win the fight against the potentially deadly melanoma.

Skin cancer detection company MoleMap has developed a camera specifically designed to more accurately photograph and map moles for early melanoma detection.

More than 300 New Zealanders die from melanoma each year.

The innovation, designed and developed over the past five years, was launched at the 2012 World Congress on Dermoscopy in Brisbane.

The technology is being used by clinics, dermatologists and general practitioners in New Zealand and Australia and will soon be available in the US.

MoleMap's chief executive Adrian Bowling said the new technology aimed to fight skin cancer by increasing accuracy of the mole mapping process.

"We are excited about the diagnostic potential of this new technology - it means we have a reliable custom camera to improve our mole imaging and diagnosis and ultimately utilise it to help save lives."

The camera, named the DermLiTe DLCam, uses fixed focus for creating clinical and dermoscopic images, as well as a cross polarising light unit which illuminates the image with increased levels of polarised light.

This creates a strong contrast and gives better definition, allowing for more accurate diagnosis of melanoma.