A wearable ultrasound scanner could detect breast cancer earlier

Improving Breast Cancer Survival Rates with Wearable Ultrasound Device

When breast cancer is diagnosed in the earliest stages, the survival rate is nearly 100 percent. However, for tumors detected in later stages, that rate drops to around 25 percent.

The Importance of Early Detection

In hopes of improving the overall survival rate for breast cancer patients, MIT researchers have designed a wearable ultrasound device that could allow people to detect tumors when they are still in early stages. In particular, it could be valuable for patients at high risk of developing breast cancer in between routine mammograms.

How the Wearable Ultrasound Device Works

The device is a flexible patch that can be attached to a bra, allowing the wearer to move an ultrasound tracker along the patch and image the breast tissue from different angles. In the new study, the researchers showed that they could obtain ultrasound images with resolution comparable to that of the ultrasound probes used in medical imaging centers.

MIT graduate student Wenya Du, Research Scientist Lin Zhang, Emma Suh ’23, and Dabin Lin, a professor at Xi’an Technological University, are the lead authors of the paper, which appears today in Science Advances.

The Goal of Increasing Survival Rates

For this project, the researchers aimed to increase the survival rate of breast cancer patients by targeting those who are most likely to develop interval cancer. Breast tumors that develop in between regularly scheduled mammograms account for 20 to 30 percent of all breast cancer cases and tend to be more aggressive than those found during routine scans. With more frequent screening using the wearable ultrasound device, the researchers hope to increase the survival rate to up to 98 percent.

A Promising Diagnostic Tool

To make their vision of a diagnostic bra a reality, the researchers designed a miniaturized ultrasound scanner that could be incorporated into a bra and allow for more frequent screening. The scanner is based on the same kind of ultrasound technology used in medical imaging centers but incorporates a novel piezoelectric material that allowed for miniaturization. The device is wearable and easy to use, providing real-time, user-friendly monitoring of breast tissue.

The wearable ultrasound patch can be used over and over, making it suitable for home use by people at high risk for breast cancer or those who don’t have regular access to screening. The researchers envision that it could eliminate the need for women to travel to an imaging center, making early detection more accessible and convenient.

Advancements in Ultrasound Research and Medical Device Designs

The development of this wearable ultrasound device significantly advances ultrasound research and medical device designs. It leverages advances in materials, low-power circuits, AI algorithms, and biomedical systems. The researchers also plan to explore adapting the ultrasound technology to scan other parts of the body.

Conclusion

The wearable ultrasound device offers a fundamental capability in the detection and early diagnosis of breast cancer, which is key to a positive outcome. With its potential to increase survival rates and provide a more reliable, comfortable, and less intimidating diagnostic tool, this technology aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ensuring good health and well-being (SDG 3) and promoting gender equality (SDG 5).