New pressure-sensing technology ‘could aid breast cancer diagnosis’

Japanese and American engineers are developing new pressure-sensing technology with the potential to facilitate the detection of breast cancer.

The transparent, bendable and sensitive pressure sensor is created using nanofibre technology and can measure pressure distribution of rounded surfaces, maintaining its sensing accuracy even when bent over a radius of 80 micrometres.

Developed at the University of Tokyo, the sensor is roughly eight micrometres thick and can measure pressure in 144 locations at once. In tests with an artificial blood vessel, it was shown to be able to detect small changes in pressure and speed of pressure propagation.

With this technology, it is thought that it could be possible to create pressure-sensitive rubber gloves that healthcare practitioners can use to physically screen for breast cancer and detect tumorous tissue.

Dr Sungwon Lee of the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering said: "I realised that many groups are developing flexible sensors that can measure pressure, but none of them are suitable for measuring real objects since they are sensitive to distortion."