French smart bra could help detect early signs of breast cancer

Bra-vo for this uplifting news.Breast cancer cases are consistently on the rise, accounting for about 30% of all new female cancers annually and affecting more than 320,000 people this year alone.A piece of wearable technology, though, could hold the key to earlier detection for one of the most common and deadliest cancers for women, giving new meaning to an underwired bra.While mammograms are the standard way to get checked for cancer, starting at age 40 and recommended every year, earlier detection is oftentimes better for those who are high risk.More wearable devices, like a miniaturized AI ultrasound scanner, are being created to detect breast cancer tumors in the early stages and create more accessible diagnostic methods in between mammograms.Now, a French-Swiss research team is seeing promising results from a “smart bra” equipped with thermal sensors and artificial intelligence to screen for early signs of cancer.The PHI-BRA smart bra system is a non-invasive device worn for 30 minutes using skin surface thermography to track changes in breast tissue temperature.An increase in temperature can signal increased blood flow caused by a developing tumor or cancerous breast tissue.The bra also uses surface electrodes for electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a way to measure cell structure frequency, as breast tumors have different structures.This combination of thermography and electrical impedance can measure both metabolic activity through the surface and tissue structural properties.Data collected is then analyzed by artificial intelligence methods to check for any suspicious heat patterns.The AI can also take into account any uncertainty in measurements, which allows for any anomalies to be located.While not a direct replacement for mammogram screenings, the bra could serve as an additional and more accessible screening method in between doctor’s visits.Although mammograms aren’t generally recommended until women hit 40, cases of life-threatening b...