Canada’s University of Waterloo researchers said they’ve developed a method to detect breast cancer in women early enough for them to receive lifesaving treatment. The technology aims to be more accurate, cheaper and safer than common diagnostic tools used now, such as x-ray mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Lead researcher and professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering, Omar Ramahi and his team developed this novel technique, which, to a high degree, resembles X-ray mammography; however, instead of using X-rays for obtaining images of the breast, low-frequency electromagnetic fields are leveraged. 

Low-frequency electromagnetic energy is emitted from an antenna. Once the energy penetrates a patient’s breasts it is picked up by a circuit board. Artificial intelligence (AI) interprets the pictures from the circuit board, removing the need for a human technician to review the results. And those results are detected rather quickly. “An immediate impression,” said Prof Ramahi. “One to two minutes.”

Ramahi and his team are now hoping to get Health Canada’s approval so their system can be tested on human subjects. The cost of each device is currently $2,000 to $3,000, but the team believes they can bring the price down even more.

They’re hopeful the device will become accessible enough for women to use with the same convenience and frequency as in-pharmacy blood pressure testing.