Wearable patch could flag melanoma risk earlier than visual inspection

A battery-free wearable patch that measures electrical properties of skin lesions identified differences between pigmented lesions and healthy skin in a pilot study, potentially offering a way to flag suspicious moles earlier outside specialized dermatology clinics.

The wireless device, developed by Mohammad J. Moghimi, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, works without batteries or computer chips by using magnetic signals from a separate reader device to measure how easily electrical currents pass through skin tissue. The study, published in npj Biomedical Innovations, tested the patch on 10 volunteers who had pigmented lesions such as moles.

“Skin cancer is most treatable when caught early, but many people don't have easy access to specialized dermatology care,” Moghimi said in a news release. “Our wearable patch is designed to be affordable, comfortable and easy to use, even outside of a doctor's office. It could empower patients and primary care providers to monitor suspicious skin lesions and seek help sooner.”

Melanoma affects nearly 100,000 Americans annually and caused close to 8,000 deaths in 2023. Early detection significantly improves treatment success, but current screening relies on visual inspection, which can miss early warning signs. More advanced tools such as dermoscopy and biopsy typically require dermatologists and specialized equipment.

The patch measures distinct electrical patterns, which indicates how easily electrical signals pass through living tissue. Cancerous areas have different electrical properties than healthy skin because malignant tumors affect cell shape, density, and blood flow. The device can detect these differences, providing information beyond what visual inspection typically provides.

In the study, researchers placed the flexible patch directly on skin lesions and on nearby healthy tissue. The patch used safe electrical signals to measure electrical patterns and transmitted its findings wirelessly to a reader device three millimeters away. Results from the 10 participants showed the device recorded a distinct electrical pattern over moles compared with nearby healthy skin.

The patch could work equally well across all skin tones, the study authors wrote, because it measures electrical properties rather than relying on visual characteristics. It also provides objective, numerical data that can be stored and shared easily, reducing privacy concerns associated with imaging-based methods.

The device offers advantages over existing electrical impedance tools. Unlike a benchtop system that requires microinvasive electrodes inserted into skin and skilled professionals to operate, the patch is noninvasive and designed to be low-cost and disposable. Its wireless, battery-free design is intended to make it lightweight and comfortable to wear.

The patch addresses limitations in current melanoma screening. Visual inspection is subjective, and imaging-based methods can struggle with small lesions or darker skin tones. The patch provides additional information that could complement existing diagnostic techniques.

The research team plans to integrate conductive hydrogel electrodes into future versions for better performance and comfort. Larger clinical studies will test how well the patch distinguishes between benign and malignant lesions in real-world settings.

“Our goal is to make early skin cancer detection accessible to everyone,” Moghimi said. “By providing a tool that can be used at home or in primary care settings, we hope to reduce the number of missed or late diagnoses and improve patient outcomes.”