A team of scientists at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is developing an innovative wearable technology that can detect breast cancer faster, more accurately, and with less impact than current standard methods. The technology, in the form of a flexible ultrasound patch, works without radiation and can detect abnormalities within seconds. The development is led by Dr. Canan Dagdeviren, an associate professor in MIT's Department of Media Arts and Sciences.
She specializes in flexible electronic devices that can be worn directly on the body, such as the skin, the breast area, or even the brain. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, she explained how her team is working on a wearable solution for monitoring breast cancer.
Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide. According to Dagdeviren, the device offers a promising alternative to traditional mammography. This method is perceived as painful by women and is less effective in women with high breast tissue density. She also points to the problem of so-called interval cancers: aggressive tumors that develop between mammogram appointments. This delay in diagnosis reduces the survival rate by as much as 22 percent.
More data for monitoring
The new wearable technology should be able to detect these forms of cancer faster. The patch works via ultrasound and converts biological signals into electrical signals that are then interpreted using artificial intelligence. The user wears the device regularly or even continuously, making much more data available to accurately monitor changes in the breast.
Thanks to the integration of AI, the device can detect not only whether something is wrong but also how an abnormality develops over time, for example, under the influence of medication. According to the researchers, this could lead to a higher survival rate, potentially up to 98 percent with early detection and personalized follow-up.
Dagdeviren describes this approach as learning to "read" the body's biological language, such as heart rate, breathing, or other physiological signals, to arrive at personalized and timely medical interventions. She believes the role of healthcare providers remains essential, but the technology offers valuable support in screening and diagnosis.
Wearable Health Technologies
MIT is currently conducting the first clinical trials on humans. If all goes according to plan, Dagdeviren hopes the technology will be available to consumers and healthcare institutions within four to five years. This development fits within a broader trend in which wearable health technologies, such as smartwatches and smart rings, are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are increasingly being used for the early detection of conditions like sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and now cancer.
This innovation demonstrates how artificial intelligence and wearable technology are jointly shaping the future of healthcare with increased prevention, less invasive methods, and ultimately improved patient survival rates.
