- Robot detects breast cancer.
- Testing on women within 3 years.
- Quick, accessible breast examinations.
A robot capable of detecting potential breast cancer tumors in women has been developed.
Women are encouraged to regularly check their breasts for lumps, but many may forget or lack confidence in doing so.
Engineers at the University of Bristol have created a robot with five “fingers” designed for this purpose.
While the research is in its early stages, the robot is expected to undergo testing on women within the next three years and could eventually be available in shopping centers and pharmacies for convenient breast checks.
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The prototype demonstrated its ability to cover the entire surface of a silicone “breast.”
During testing, the robot hand successfully detected a bulge positioned 20mm (three-quarters of an inch) below the surface of the silicone, simulating a breast lump.
Researchers acknowledge the need to test the device on a wider range of silicone breasts to ensure it is effective for women of varying sizes and shapes. However, the prototype was developed for just £200.
A full evaluation takes 10–12 minutes, but researchers want to cut it to five minutes.
George Jenkinson, the engineer leading the robot’s development, stated, “If this robot proves to be effective in further trials, we envision its presence in shopping centers, pharmacies, and health centers, allowing women to easily access quick breast examinations.
A survey of 155 women revealed that 92% of them would consent to an automated breast examination.
The Bristol-developed robot features five silicon-tipped, finger-sized mechanisms with knuckle-like joints. An algorithm controls their forward and backward movements on a rotating plate, and the “fingers” apply a force similar to that of a human hand when examining a breast, with each finger covering about one-fifth of the breast’s surface.
According to its creators, this motorized robot is advantageous as it does not require a medical professional to operate it.
