Pressure-controlled ultrasound probe for reliable imaging in breast cancer diagnosis

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, with over 2 million new cases diagnosed each year. Early detection can be achieved by screening examinations such as mammography and ultrasonography. The latter has demonstrated advantages such as safety and sensitivity to dense breasts, but is often performed as a follow-up test after abnormal findings at mammography or on palpation. Indeed, the technique shows limitations of operator-dependence and non-reproducibility, since the quality of imaging is highly dependent on the skill of the technologist performing the examination. We therefore designed a diagnosis-assisting device comprising piezoresistive sensors of microscale thickness that can be attached to the ultrasound transducer. The operator is informed when excessive pressure is detected, allowing correction of the transducer position. Finally, we fabricated a breast phantom including tumors from agar and collagen to assess the effectiveness of the device.