By Sejal Grover | Published on March 27, 2023
To improve the survival rate of patients suffering from breast cancer, MIT researchers designed a wearable ultrasound device that could allow people to detect tumors when they are in their early stages. This device is particularly valuable for patients at high risk of developing breast cancer in between their scheduled mammograms.
20 to 30 percent of all breast cancer cases develop between regularly scheduled mammograms, known as interval cancer. These tumors tend to also be more aggressive than those found during routine scans. Dagdeviren states, “My goal is to target the people who are most likely to develop interval cancer. With more frequent screening, our goal to increase the survival rate to up to 98 percent can be made possible.”
The device was designed as a flexible patch that can be attached to a bra, allowing the wearer to move the ultrasound tracker along the patch and image the breast tissue from various angles. Following testing, researchers have demonstrated that they can obtain ultrasound images with a resolution comparable to that of ultrasound probes used in medical imaging centers. Canan Dagdeviren, an associate professor in MIT’s Media Lab and senior author of the study, explains her hopes, “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.” The scanner is based on the same kind of ultrasound technology used in medical imaging centers, however, incorporates a novel piezoelectric material that has allowed researchers to miniaturize the scanner.
For the device to be wearable, they designed a flexible, 3D-printed patch with honeycomb-like openings. Using magnetic attachments, the patch can be attached to any bra. The ultrasound scanner fits inside a small tracker that can be moved to six different positions. “This work will significantly advance ultrasound research and medical device designs, leveraging advances in materials, low-power circuits, AI algorithms, and biomedical systems”, says Anatha Chandrakasan, dean of MIT’s School of Engineering.
This device was tested on a 71-year-old woman with a history of breast cysts. While using the device, the cysts were able to be detected, which were as small as 0.3 centimeters in diameter. The results also demonstrated resolution similar to traditional ultrasounds. The breast tissue could be imaged at a depth of up to 8 centimeters. “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,” states Catherine Riccardi, nurse director at MIT’s Center for Clinical and Translational Research.
Researchers envision that the device could be used at home by people who are at high risk for breast cancer. It could also help diagnose cancer in people who don’t have regular access to screening. This new device is a breakthrough that changes the future of detecting breast cancer.
Works Cited
Trafton, Anne. (2023, July). A wearable ultrasound scanner could detect breast cancer earlier. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://news.mit.edu/2023/wearable-ultrasound-scanner-breast-cancer-0728
Science Daily. (2023, July 28). A wearable ultrasound scanner could detect breast cancer earlier. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230728170625.htm
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