1 in 8 women in the US will develop some form of breast cancer. In many cases, cancer is detected too late due to a lapse in annual mammograms, and a general lack of awareness around breast health. We want to change this.
RHO is a new system to familiarize women with breast exams, and a more efficient way to detect breast abnormalities that may be cancerous. This product is a breast density measuring bra paired with tactile models that simulate abnormalities. Together, the two products are the future of early breast cancer detection.
ROLE
Product Design Lead
LOCATION
MIT, Boston MA
Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. These cells usually form a tumor that can often be seen on an x-ray or felt as a lump. The tumor is malignant (cancer) if the cells can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body.
- American Cancer Society
Most effective method of finding and diagnosing breast cancer.
Not as effective as imaging. Mainly useful in finding hard masses non-invasively.
Often not very effective due in part to lack of training and infrequency of exams.
Imaging techniques include mammograms, breast ultrasound, and breast MRI scans.
Mammograms are the most common method of detecting and diagnosing breast cancer.
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of a breast. Using plates to flatten the breast for a better image, mammogram machines provide a detailed view of the structures within a breast, including tumors and abnormalities.
Screening mammograms are performed at regular intervals after a certain age to screen for abnormalities.
Undergoing a mammogram screening is uncomfortable for most women, and many experience severe pain. Mammogram technicians adjust the compression force based on breast size, skin tautness and pain tolerance.
In many cases, damage to structures within the breast or breast tissue can occur. Mammogram equipment can often apply up to 4 pounds of pressure per square inch.
Mammograms require small doses of radiation. The risk of harm from this radiation exposure is low, however repeated exposure to x-rays increases the chance of cancer. In addition, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding cannot get mammograms.
Our product will provide patients’ breast density measurements so clinicians can better advise their patients on an individual basis about the right time to start getting mammograms. In addition, we aim to spread more knowledge about breast cancer within different breast densities.
Saundra is an internal medicine physician in the women’s clinic of a large hospital. She has 15 years of experience
Her patients that will be entering the age where annual mammograms are recommended. This is usually around age 40.
Many of her patients have expressed concerns about pain, discomfort, and possibility of injury attributed to mammograms. They are also uncomfortable speaking about breast health due to their cultural upbringing. Her patients also do not feel confident enough to conduct self breast exams because they feel they will not do it right.
We created a breast density measuring bra that could track changes in the breasts and therefore detect cancerous abnormalities when they develop.
A way for clinicians to accurately determine breast density without imaging. Fast, easy, safe and completely non-invasive.
Patient lifts then drops breasts.
Accelerometers and vertical stretch sensors measure and log movement data.
It is important that the lower accelerometer is positioned above the farthest protruding area of the breast.
Patient stands on their toes and then drops to flat feet.
Accelerometers and vertical stretch sensors measure and log movement data.
The lower accelerometer must be positioned at the farthest protruding area of the breast.
Patient stands and stretch sensors measure breast volume.
Volume measurement data is then processed in CAD software and a volume measurement is calculated.
A set of 4 teardrop shaped, tactile, breast density simulators that mimic the 4 types of breast densities. The goal here was to create a product that could provided individual awareness of what abnormalities and lumps feel like in the breast, based on an individual’s density type.
Dragon skin simulates both the texture and elasticity of skin, while cotton and silicone beads simulate different tissue layers within the breast.
Just as there are four density categories of breast tissue, there are four different tactile models, each representing a different density classification. Each model’s density is created via the amount of filler material.
Lumps are scattered throughout the polyfill layer to simulate different shapes and sizes of potentially concerning lumps.
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Bra Liner
Using the bra from patient to patient in a clinic presents concerns about hygiene and the possibility of cross-contamination between patients.
The tuner will reduce the risk of transmitting illnesses between patients by providing a sanitary layer that can be either disposed of or washed.
Depending on the setting, the clinic or hospital may wish to either dispose of the liner after each use, or combine them with the rest of the laundry from the hospital.
In order to preserve sanitation and hygiene from patient to patient, each tactile model can be either washed in soapy water, or wiped with alcohol sanitizing wipes.
Our future vision for these tactile models is to enhance then with different skin colors. We want to personalize the tactile simulation experience as much as possible. The women interacting with these models should feel that she is interacting with her own breast. Skin color variations will increase familiarity.
We created physician portal where doctors will be able to log and track patient data. This will prove useful with continued use and make it easy for new physicians to understand the product.
With this new system, clinicians will be able to advise patients on an individual basis about the right time to start getting yearly mammograms.
Patients will also gain more knowledge about their individual risk factor and how to catch abnormalities early with fewer false positives.
