Published 12:52 IST, April 4th 2020
This novel 'SmartBra' can detect breast cancer in its early stages
Putting artificial intelligence to its best use, the students of Swiss university EPFL have designed a smart bra for women which helps detect breast cancer.
Putting artificial intelligence (AI) to its best use, the students of Swiss university EPFL have designed a smart bra for women which helps detect breast cancer in its early stages. Using the technology of ultrasound waves, the SmartBra will help detect breast cancer using the piezoelectric sensors embedded in the bra. In place of the gel used in ultrasounds, the students have developed a plastic interface that functions in the same way.
The students of the Swiss University have partnered up with the startup IcosaMed, and are plalning to bring the SmartBra to market in 2021 initially selling it to patients who have already been diagnosed and might benefit from daily monitoring.
After this initial stage, the students plan to market the SmartBra to people who might be in the high-risk category being genetically predisposed to developing cancer. Later on, the bra would be sold to anyone who is interested.
How the SmartBra functions
After wearing the SmartBra, the ultrasound technology in it would detect a suspicious mass if any after which the wearer will be alerted. The wearer can then follow up with a specialist. In the future, the team hopes it might be used as a complementary or alternative therapy. Reports have shown that artificial intelligence is better than doctors at predicting abnormalities. Google claims its AI can detect breast cancer more accurately than experts. Hence, the SmartBra seems to appear as a promising concept.
Updated 12:52 IST, April 4th 2020