Home-use device helps detect signs of breast cancer

In its early stage of development, a new evolutionary ultrasound system allows women to regularly monitor for abnormalities in their breast at home.

Technology has revolutionized the health industry, simplifying health checks for those in need and helping alleviate symptoms. There is a wearable device that alleviates menopause symptoms and even a handheld device that helps hyperhidrosis suffers. Creating such innovations that bring health checks and treatment home minimizes tiresome trips to see a doctor. This means technology can transform the lives of millions of people around the world who have ongoing illnesses.

Health organizations encourage women to regularly check their breasts for signs of breast cancer, with older women also invited to have mammograms. However, mammograms miss 17 percent of all breast cancers. Additionally, one in three result in false positive results, costing 4 billion USD in unnecessary diagnosis and treatment. Jerusalem-based startup MonitHer aims to solve this issue with its handheld whole breast ultrasound device.

The device is designed for home-use to monitor breast tissue. The hardware is currently in early stage of development. When approved, users will be able to scan their breasts once a month for around 10 minutes to check for signs of breast cancer. The software program, approved by the US FDA, scans the images to check for signs of concern. If any changes are detected the mobile application, which pairs with the device, alerts the user of potential changes. Users can then immediately send a secured link to their physician, who will have access to historical images of the area in question. This also allows physician’s to distinguish a mass that requires follow up treatment, eliminating potential overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment.

In the future, artificial intelligence and machine learning technology will evaluate tissue changes once a substantive number of  women begin to use the device and upload their scans through the linked app each month. Dr. Yehudi Abrams, founder of MonitHer, recently won USD 360,000 in the Jerusalem WeWork Creator Awards, the award funding initiative that returns to London in the autumn. She hopes the device will help women detect signs of cancer earlier than mammography alone. This is just one way technology is evolving to save lives. Prevention of disease is a daily effort, which cannot be implemented by the physician but the patient. MonitHer is democratizing clinical grade diagnostics for the home, enabling early detection of breast cancer while eliminating overdiagnosis and treatment. Perhaps technology is the key to making the patient the center of preventive intervention. How else could technology broaden access to healthcare and improve prevention practice?