A robotic innovation could help diagnose breast cancer earlier and ‘revolutionise’ screening for women.
The innovative device can detect lumps at large depths and apply human-like forces with precision using sensor technology.
Designed by a team at the University of Bristol in the UK, the technology can perform clinical breast examinations (CBEs) with remarkable precision.
It emulates the forces applied by human examiners and utilises advanced sensors to detect abnormalities at greater depths within the breast tissue.
It could transform how women monitor breast health with electronic CBEs readily available at convenient locations like pharmacies and health centres.
The robot meets the core principles of precision, repeatability and accuracy crucial in medical examinations – particularly important in challenging scenarios such as minimally invasive surgery.
The interdisciplinary research team, under the guidance of Dr Antonia Tzemanaki from the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, combined the efforts of both postgraduate and undergraduate researchers.
Lead author George Jenkinson explained the significance of their work: ‘There are conflicting ideas about how useful carrying out CBEs are for the population’s health outcomes. It’s generally agreed upon that if it is well performed, it can be a beneficial and low-risk diagnostic technique.
‘There have been a few attempts to use technology to improve the standard to which healthcare professionals can perform a CBE by having a robot or electronic device physically palpate breast tissue. But the last decade of technological advances in manipulation and sensor technology means we are now better positioned to do this.’
He added: ‘The first question we want to answer as part of this is whether a specialised manipulator can be demonstrated to have the dexterity necessary to palpate a realistic breast size and shape.’
The team constructed the manipulator using 3D printing and computerised numerical control methods. They conducted a series of laboratory and simulated experiments, utilising a silicone model and its digital counterpart based on a volunteer’s breast at the Simulation and Modelling in Medicine and Surgery research group at Imperial College London.
These experiments enabled the team to carry out thousands of palpations, testing various hypothetical scenarios, including the efficiency of using different sensor configurations.
The lab experiments validated the accuracy of their simulations and provided valuable insights into the forces required for real-world applications.
George Jenkinson emphasised the potential of their research: ‘We aim to contribute to the array of techniques used for breast cancer diagnosis and generate substantial data that could aid in early detection.
‘Anecdotal feedback from some healthcare professionals suggests that this technology could offer a low-risk means of objectively recording health data. It could facilitate easier comparison of successive examinations or enhance the information sent to specialists when patients are referred for further assessment.’
The next phase of the work involves integrating professional CBE techniques with artificial intelligence (AI) and equipping the manipulator with sensors to assess the system’s effectiveness in identifying potential cancer risks.
Ultimately, the goal is for this device and its sensors to surpass the capabilities of human touch, enabling more accurate and deeper detection of breast lumps. It could also seamlessly integrate with other techniques, such as ultrasound examinations.
Credit: George Jenkinson
