Wearable device powered by AI could enable breast cancer screening at home

To enable women at high risk of breast cancer to have more frequent screenings between mammograms, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are developing a wearable ultrasound scanner that attaches to a bra.

The goal is to help women detect early-stage breast cancer tumors and maximize survival, according to a press release on MIT’s website.

The researchers’ goal was to develop a handheld “miniaturized ultrasound device” that would allow for “consistent placement and orientation” to capture images of breast tissue, according to the study’s lead author, Canan Dagdeviren, PhD, associate professor at MIT.

The device attaches to the bra like a patch, with a “honeycomb” pattern that provides clearance for the tracker to move for an optimal field of view, Dagdeviren told Fox News Digital.

“The ultrasound creates a wave that penetrates the target breast tissue,” he said.

“When the ultrasonic wave sees an obstacle like a tumor, it is reflected [that] – and the ultrasound machine captures this reflected wave and produces a black and white ultrasound image.”

He added, “From this image, you can see the coordination and shape of any abnormality in the soft breast tissue.”

In one study, a woman with a history of breast cysts wore the bra and patch, and the researchers scanned the breast at six different locations according to the patch design.

The technology recorded the images of the breast tissue, which revealed cysts just 0.3 centimeters in diameter — the approximate size of tumors in the early stages of the disease.

The device is designed to complement traditional examinations by healthcare professionals, not as a replacement, Dagdeviren said.

“For personal health care and monitoring at home, this device can be considered as a replacement [for] the traditional handheld probe or the ABUS system in early stage breast tumor imaging,” he said.

Researchers plan to use artificial intelligence to analyze the ultrasound images and make diagnostic recommendations.

“For the diagnosis of breast tumors, this device can be a powerful complement to existing screening methods, making long-term breast imaging efficient and convenient.”

In the future, researchers want to use artificial intelligence to analyze the ultrasound images and make diagnostic recommendations.

“AI integration has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy through data analysis and also holds potential for early detection and personalized treatment pathways for other diseases,” Dr. Harvey Castro, a Dallas, Texas-based board-certified emergency physician and national spokesperson on AI in healthcare, told Fox News Digital.

Castro was not involved in the investigation but did verify the details of the device.

“For the diagnosis of breast tumors, this device can be a powerful complement to existing screening methods, making long-term breast imaging efficient and convenient.”

It could take three to four years before the device is available to consumers, Dagdeviren said.

“The key step is the wearable system and wireless communication with the hospital,” he told Fox News Digital.

The company also needs to complete intensive human trials and get FDA approval — something that is expected to cost Dagdeviren around $40 million.

Dagdeviren said he doesn’t see any safety risks associated with the device because it doesn’t use radiation.

Also, the wearable ultrasound patch can be used over and over again, according to the press release on MIT’s website. It could also be helpful in diagnosing cancer in people who don’t have regular access to checkups.

System limitations

The device requires a long, flexible cable to connect the imaging system, the study’s lead author noted.

In addition, the system that collects all the data is currently large and stationary.

“We are currently working on a portable system that we hope to release in a few months,” said Dagdeviren.

The image resolution is “sufficient, but not outstanding,” he stated, and the researchers are working on various image processing methods.

“Our next paper and patent will remove all of these limitations in about six months,” Dagdeviren said.

Technology has “potential to save lives”

“The development of this wearable breast cancer detection device represents a significant advance in healthcare technology,” Castro told Fox News Digital.

“Its potential to save lives and expand its potential to other diseases is immense.”

“It cannot replace traditional mammograms and other preventive measures by a breast cancer expert.”

Castro added, “However, careful consideration of implementation, including rigorous testing, alignment with existing medical protocols, and ethical considerations, will be critical to success.”

In order to maximize the potential of this technology, he stressed the need to “strike a balance between innovation and responsible medical practice.”

There is also a need to ensure privacy and security of personal health information and to consider “potential disparities in access,” particularly if the device becomes a commercial product, Castro stressed.

Depending on the level of knowledge of the user, there could also be a risk of inconsistencies and inaccuracies, he emphasized.

“It embodies the convergence of technology and healthcare, and reflects a future where healthcare is more accessible and personalized,” Castro said.

“However, it cannot replace traditional mammography and other preventive measures by a breast cancer expert.”

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, next to skin cancer, accounting for one in three women diagnosed with cancer each year.

If breast cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is 99%. If it is discovered at an advanced stage, the survival rate is only 25%.