This Nigerian Researcher's Smart Bra Can Detect Early Signs Of Breast Cancer

Researchers from Nigeria made a Smart Bra to detect early signs of breast cancer with Ultrasound technology (Photo: Screenshot)

JAKARTA - Technology has developed rapidly in recent years, from smart glasses to haptic gloves.

Researchers from Nigeria have developed the Smart Bra, which they say can detect breast cancer early. The prototype contains a tiny ultrasound sensor that scans the breast, and reveals the location of any tumor.

The Smart Bra was developed by a wearable device company, Nextwear Technology based in Abuja, Nigeria. The development team hopes the device they are using can improve breast cancer diagnosis in Africa.

Speaking to SciDev.Net, Kemisola Bolarinwa, a robotics engineer who developed the Smart Bra, said that his mother died of breast cancer in 2017 due to a late diagnosis.

“In her ward at the hospital, I saw women of all age groups, even teenagers, moaning in pain from breast cancer. That's when I felt I needed to contribute to fighting this disease," said Bolarinwa, quoted by DailyMail.

The Smart Bra is lined with a tiny, battery-operated ultrasound sensor, and syncs with a mobile or web app.

Bolarinwa explained that the Smart Bra must be worn on the breast for a maximum of 30 minutes so that the results can be seen. "This application also has an interface to send the results to the doctor," she continued.

Previously, people might have to go to the doctor for breast cancer screening, and now Bolarinwa says that they can use Smart Bras to detect cancer in their homes.

Nextwear Technology has been working on the Smart Bra for four years, and hopes to have it ready for sale in July this year. “We have done local trials and got around 70 percent accuracy. We are working towards 95-97 percent accuracy,” said Bolarinwa.

Currently, there is no further information regarding the price that will be charged for the Smart Bra product.