MIT researchers have developed a portable ultrasound system designed to help detect breast cancer earlier, especially for people at high risk. The device consists of a small ultrasound probe and a processing module that is only slightly larger than a smartphone. It can be connected to a laptop computer to create and display wide-angle 3D images in real time.
According to the research team, this technology could allow more frequent screenings, either at home or in clinics, potentially increasing early detection rates. "You need skilled ultrasound technicians to use those machines, which is a major obstacle to getting ultrasound access to rural communities, or to developing countries where there aren't as many skilled radiologists," said Shrihari Viswanath, an MIT graduate student involved in the project.
Traditional breast cancer screening often relies on mammograms using X-rays. However, some aggressive tumors—called interval cancers—can develop between annual scans and may go undetected until they reach later stages. Early detection is critical; survival rates are much higher when cancer is found early.
Ultrasound can supplement mammograms by identifying tumors that might not appear on X-rays. Current ultrasound equipment is typically large, expensive, and requires specialized training. The new MIT system aims to overcome these barriers by offering a portable and less expensive alternative.
In 2023, the same group introduced an array of ultrasound transducers embedded into a flexible patch for imaging breast tissue from different angles. While this produced 2D images that could be combined into 3D representations, it still required connection to large processing machines.
The latest development features a modified ultrasound array and chirped data acquisition system (cDAQ). The probe is smaller than a deck of cards and contains an array shaped like an empty square for taking 3D images beneath the skin. Its motherboard costs about $300 using off-the-shelf components and can be powered by standard batteries or adapters.
"Traditional 3D ultrasound systems require power expensive and bulky electronics, which limits their use to high-end hospitals and clinics," said Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT Provost. "By redesigning the system to be ultra-sparse and energy-efficient, this powerful diagnostic tool can be moved out of the imaging suite and into a wearable form factor that is accessible for patients everywhere."
Md Osman Goni Nayeem added: "Ultrasound imaging has long been confined to hospitals. To move ultrasound beyond the hospital setting, we reengineered the entire architecture, introducing a new ultrasound fabrication process, to make the technology both scalable and practical."
The prototype was tested on one human subject—a woman with previous breast cysts—and successfully created accurate 3D images without gaps or distortion. The device does not need pressure against tissue during scanning; instead it rests gently on top of the skin.
"With our technology, you simply place it gently on top of the tissue and it can visualize the cysts in their original location and with their original sizes," said Canan Dagdeviren from MIT Media Lab.
The team is conducting larger clinical trials at MIT Center for Clinical and Translational Research as well as Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). They are also working on making an even smaller processor—about fingernail-sized—that would connect directly with smartphones for easier visualization via app-based guidance powered by AI algorithms.
The current version could already be used in medical offices; future iterations may allow home monitoring for high-risk individuals through wearable sensors. Dagdeviren plans to commercialize the device with support from several MIT entrepreneurship initiatives.
