A handheld portable device that can be easily operated by primary health care workers could help in early detection of breast cancer, which has emerged as the most common form of cancer for women in India.
iBreastExam is a battery-operated, fully wireless, radiation-free device that can be paired via Bluetooth to its associated tablet and then gently moved over each breast in quadrants. The sensors in the device electronically palpate the breast and evaluate tissue elasticity. The readings are captured on the tablet.
In a study conducted by the Government Medical College, Nagpur, it was concluded to be a ‘potential powerful screening tool’ which could distinguish between hard and soft tissues with great sensitivity and specificity. The study also concluded that the use of the device could reduce the burden on machines and radiologists, as further ultrasounds or mammography would need to be conducted only on such women who showed tissue abnormality.
The device displays and stores data in realtime, but does not capture any identifiable data, thus ensuring the privacy of patients. The results are displayed in a simple manner, with green indicating normal breast tissue and red indicating a lesion (which is stiffer than normal breast tissue). Thus, primary health care workers are not required to undergo any extensive training to read and understand the data. It must however be noted that the device does not differentiate the types of lesions captured. It is also not a substitute for mammograms, ultrasounds or MRIs.
In India, 3.8 lakh scans have been conducted using iBreastExam to date. UE Lifesciences, the company behind the device has also collaborated with the government of Goa, and recently partnered with Hinduja Hospital to screen policewomen in Mumbai.
The device has been used to conduct two million breast exams across the world and has received numerous recognitions including the 2022 Global Women HealthTech Award by the World Bank.
