Wearable Ultrasound Scanner Fits Into A Bra To Detect Breast Cancer Early On
By Mikelle Leow, 01 Aug 2023
Image via Canan Dagdeviren / MIT
When it comes to cancer detection, staying abreast is truly key. MIT researchers have developed a wearable ultrasound scanner that can be incorporated into a bra, with the hopes of providing an accurate and more accessible tool for identifying breast cancer, the most common cancer among women. The disease is almost certainly curable when discovered early, but people who have it often come to learn of it too late.
The device takes the form of a flexible patch that can be easily attached to a bra, allowing users to move an ultrasound tracker along the patch to image breast tissue from different angles.
What makes this ultrasound scanner so portable is its use of a piezoelectric material, which enables its inventors to miniaturize the technology without sacrificing imaging capabilities. Its 3D-printed honeycomb-like openings in the patch make it flexible and comfortable to wear, providing a user-friendly experience.
The ultrasound scanner is housed in a small tracker that can be adjusted to six different positions for a comprehensive imaging process, and doesn’t require special expertise to be used.
For patients at high risk of developing breast cancer or those who need frequent screenings, this wearable ultrasound patch could literally be a lifesaver. It offers a convenient and accessible way to monitor breast tissue regularly and detect potential tumors in their early stages. This is crucial because when breast cancer is diagnosed early, the survival rate is nearly 100%. In contrast, tumors detected in later stages have a much lower survival rate of around 25%, the MIT researchers detail.
The device, which is reusable over and over again, would particularly benefit high-risk patients who are in between routine mammograms. Tumors that emerge while they wait for their next appointment, called interval cancers, can be more aggressive than those identified during regular scans.
Image via Canan Dagdeviren / MIT
“We changed the form factor of the ultrasound technology so that it can be used in your home. It’s portable and easy to use, and provides real-time, user-friendly monitoring of breast tissue,” shares Canan Dagdeviren, an associate professor in MIT’s Media Lab and the senior author of the study, which has been published in the Science Advances journal. MIT graduate student Wenya Du; Research Scientist Lin Zhang, Emma Suh; and Dabin Lin, a professor at Xi’an Technological University; join her as lead authors.
Dagdeviren was compelled to design the wearable scanner after her late aunt was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer. At her bedside, the niece sketched up a gadget that could be fitted into a bra in hopes of helping others in a similar plight get a second chance in life.
Image via Canan Dagdeviren / MIT
The researchers envision that this device could be used at home by individuals with a higher risk of breast cancer, giving them more peace of mind. Moreover, the wearable ultrasound patch has the potential to reach individuals who don’t have regular access to medical screenings.
The proof of concept has already shown promising results, with successful imaging of breast tissue and the detection of cysts as small as 0.3 centimeters (0.118 inches) in diameter. The resolution achieved is comparable to traditional ultrasound, and the device can image breast tissue at a depth of up to eight centimeters (3.15 inches).
While the researchers currently need to connect the scanner to a traditional ultrasound machine for imaging, they are working on a more compact version about the size of a smartphone to help pave the way for more accessible and efficient screenings.
“Access to quality and affordable health care is essential for early detection and diagnosis,” notes Catherine Ricciardi, nurse director at MIT’s Center for Clinical and Translational Research and an author of the paper. Being on the frontline, Ricciardi says she’s seen the negative consequences of belated diagnoses. “This technology holds the promise of breaking down the many barriers for early breast cancer detection by providing a more reliable, comfortable, and less intimidating diagnostic,” she adds.
Ultimately, the goal of the MIT researchers is to increase the survival rate for breast cancer to an impressive 98%, says Dagdeviren.
The potential applications of this technology don’t stop at breast cancer detection. The researchers are also exploring the possibility of adapting the ultrasound technology to scan other parts of the body.
With the current wearable, though, they are also looking to leverage artificial intelligence to analyze how the ultrasound images change over time, which might provide more precise predictions than the traditional approach of comparing images taken years apart.
[via Technology Networks and Popular Science, images via Canan Dagdeviren / MIT]
This article was crafted with assistance from an AI engine, and has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked.