Wearable Device Revolutionizes Breast Exams: Safe, Accurate, and Accessible for Women Everywhere
A new wearable device has been developed at the University of Bristol that could revolutionize breast exams for women. The device, created by a team at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, is designed to conduct Clinical Breast Examinations (CBE) with safe and accurate results. This innovative technology has the potential to provide women with accessible electronic CBEs located in convenient places such as pharmacies and health centers.
Clinical breast examinations are crucial for monitoring breast health and detecting potential issues such as lumps. The wearable device developed by the research team has the ability to apply specific forces similar to those used by human examiners. It incorporates advanced sensor technology that can detect lumps at greater depths than ever before, improving the accuracy of the examination.
Precision, repeatability, and accuracy are vital in these tactile medical examinations to ensure positive patient outcomes. Various automatic and semi-automatic devices have been proposed in the past to aid in optimizing this task, especially in challenging situations such as minimally invasive surgery. However, recent technological advancements in manipulation and sensor technology make it possible to enhance the standard of breast examinations.
Lead author George Jenkinson explained the importance of well-performed clinical breast examinations: If it is well performed, then it can be a very useful and low-risk diagnostic technique. Previous attempts to use technology to improve the examination process have been limited. However, the team at the University of Bristol believes that recent advancements in manipulation and sensor technology have paved the way for more effective solutions.
The research team used 3D printing and Computerised Numerical Control techniques to create the manipulator. They conducted laboratory experiments and simulated palpations on a silicone breast modelled on a volunteer at the Simulation and Modelling in Medicine and Surgery research group at Imperial College London. These simulations allowed the team to perform thousands of palpations and analyze various scenarios to optimize the device’s efficiency.
The next step for the research team is to combine the learned techniques from healthcare professionals with artificial intelligence. The ultimate goal is to equip the device with sensors that can accurately detect potential cancer risks, surpassing what is achievable through human touch alone. Additionally, the device could be used in conjunction with existing techniques like ultrasound examination to provide a comprehensive assessment.
The research was part of the ARTEMIS project, funded by Cancer Research UK and supported by EPSRC. The team presented their findings in a paper titled ‘A Robotic Radial Palpation Mechanism for Breast Examination (IRIS)’ at the RO-MAN conference.
This groundbreaking technology has the potential to benefit women worldwide by providing accessible, safe, and accurate breast examinations. By combining innovative wearable devices with advanced sensor technology, the medical field is taking a significant step forward in improving breast health monitoring. With further development and integration of artificial intelligence, these devices could play a crucial role in early breast cancer diagnosis.
References:Â
1. University of Bristol.Â
2. ResearchGate
