Along with the mobile app, a clip-on device is attached to the handset which illuminates the patient's skin using a colourful flash while the phone camera takes a sequence of images.
The images are then uploaded from the phone to the 'DRICTION' computational imaging service on the cloud.
They are then processed to provide consolidated diagnostic information to skilled paramedics assisting them with assessing potential nature and risk of lesions and suggest an expert physician's intervention in critical cases.
The researchers say the app can be used by semi-skilled paramedics working in rural and primary healthcare centers.
It will assist in fast and high-precision screening of skin lesions and abnormalities like cancers, psoriasis, scaling, keratinisation, melanoma, inflammation, ulcers, lypoma, healing and non-healing wounds, heavy metal induced dysplasia which may or may-not be evidently visible on the surface.
