- In 2020, 2.3 million cases of breast cancer were detected in women in the world and 685,000 died from this disease, according to the WHO
- Developer Mihir Shah and his partners created iBreastExam, a device for detecting breast lumps through a scanner.
- Currently, the device has achieved more than 450,000 scans and more than 200 cases detected.
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In 2020, 2.3 million cases of breast cancer were detected in women in the world and 685,000 died from this disease, according to WHO. A good part of the deaths was due to the lack of early medical attention.
Although early detection of cancer increases the chances of survival to 90.%, the lack of medical resources in developing countries makes it difficult for many women to have access to it.
Faced with this problem, developers Mihir Shah, Matthew Campisi and Bhaumik Sanghvi created iBreastExam, a device to detect lumps in the breast through a scanner.
A family experience of breast cancer prompted the creation of iBreastExam
Shah told Business Insider Mexico that in his native India, the high costs of medical check-ups and little knowledge about cancer in rural communities are a problem. He lived it directly, as he accompanied a woman from his family during the process.
“Most women globally do not have access to early detection mechanisms, due to the lack of expert radiologists and even because of the cost of medical supplies,” she said.
The first generation of iBreastExam was created at Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA – Shah’s alma mater. There he developed the tactile sensor that allows to measure the elasticity of the breast tissue from the surface of the skin.
The goal was to create a device that was “handheld”
Initially the product was very bulky, which made it difficult to maneuver. So the development team decided to turn it into something “you can carry in one hand”, in order to successfully bring it to the communities.
Medical equipment maker UE LifeScience submitted iBreastExam as a proposal to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which was seeking breast cancer screening projects.
After 2 and a half years, the team launched the hand scanner and a mobile app to form the iBreastExam system.
The FDA and various associations support the work of UE LifeScience
The first validations the biotechnology project received was by the University of Philadelphia.
In 2015, it received the first clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Four years later, Shah and his team developed the second generation iBreast, which overcame the limitations of the first sensor and again received FDA approval.
Last year the team filed new patents.
Behind iBreastExam are the evaluations of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. In these, 15 women were scanned; Three of them were diagnosed with early stage cancer and none had palpable abnormalities on clinical examination.
Another study carried out on 77 women and a man with a mean age of 42 years, revealed that the device had 86% sensitivity and 89% effectiveness, finding 66 lesions of the 77 that had previously been confirmed with mammograms and biopsies.
In addition to these studies, the device is endorsed by the American Oncology Society, the American School of Surgeons (JACS), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, among others.
Awareness of this type of medical developments is lacking
Despite the clinical recognition, Shah said that one of the main obstacles and lack of awareness about his work, “we have to inform local clients around the world about who we are and what we do by conducting awareness activities. on a large scale, ”he said.
Currently, the device is in Mexico in the states of Oaxaca, Tabasco, Campeche, Puebla and the State of Mexico, with tests in Querétaro and Tlaxcala.
Globally they work in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal and Egypt, where they have achieved 450,000 scans and more than 200 cases of early detection.
For the following year, the company expects to enter the US market and expect to launch new products.
“We plan to enter the US market as the next key step in our journey, we will have a major announcement in early December. We also plan to bring new products to market in 2022, ”he said.
NOW READ: Why getting a mammogram is better than just relying on self-exam for early detection of breast cancer
ALSO READ: Here are some symptoms of breast cancer and what you can do to reduce your risk of developing it
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