UE LifeSciences’ iBreastExam – portable, painless and radiation-free device is revolutionizing breast cancer detection.

Courtesy: 3imagescoroflot.com

UE Lifesciences developed this high-tech, portable and easy to use breast examination device based on patented ceramic sensors invented at Philadephia’s Drexel University, USA. The tactile sensors in Intelligent Beast Exam (iBreastExam )detect subtle variations in stiffness and tissue compression of the breast tissue.

iBE™Quick Facts

• Bilateral breast exam within 5 minutes (with results at the point-of-care)
• Accuracy to detect clinically relevant breast lesions higher than 85%
• Usable by any health-worker or doctor. No pain, No radiation.

 Lifesciences has also developed NoTouch BreastScan™

courtesy : http://www.ibreastexam.com/

Mihir Shah, Founder and CEO, UE LifeSciences is a Computer Engineer from Drexel University. His interest was aroused in this field because of a close family member suffering from Breast Cancer. It also made him aware of the disparities regarding access to healthcare facilities in developed and developing world. [i]

It has offices both in India and USA. The device can be used by community workers and paramedics in rural and low resource settings. It is compact, low cost, pain free and easy to operate. It can connect with smart phone app, which displays the results simultaneously as the procedure is performed.

In 2013, Breast cancer claimed approximately 70,000 lives in India which was 43% increase in 5 years. Research are projecting an addition of approximately 750,000 new breast cancer cases by 2020. India also has shortage of radiologists, high cost of mammograms and cultural taboos related to breast health delaying detection of breast cancer in its early stage. In west more than ¾ patients are diagnosed in early stages increasing longevity and quality of life.

Indian Journal of Gynaecologic Oncology (IJGO) published a study by Somashekhar SP et al in which the ibreastExam device outperformed physician performing manual breast examination by 19% because it also picked up non-palpable lesions. The study reported high Specificity (94 %) ,NPV (98 %) Sensitivity (84%)  and PPV 94%.

The authors concluded "iBreastExam can be a promising tool to provide clinically effective and standardized breast examinations in low-resource settings to detect breast lesions at early stages.

The device can also be an effective screening tool for younger women with dense breasts.”[ii]

The device is currently available in big cities Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai. It received a recent approval form National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHRSC) of India.

UE LifeSciences’ in collaboration with non-profits have already administered 20,000 exams in rural Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Delhi.

The cost of a single screening in private set up is Rs. 700-1000 and in Non-Profit units  is Rs. 100. They are trying to bring down the cost to under  Rs.100 in private set up also.

iBreastExam received FDA 510k clearance as a "Breast Lesion Documentation System" in April 2015 and is commercially available in USA and India since October 2015.

Two Promotional Video by UE LifeSciences regarding iBreastExam.

---

[i] http://www.uelifesciences.com/

[ii] http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40944-016-0057-1