Marah Alassaf, a PhD pupil in Digital Well being and Care on the College of Bristol, in a lab with the temperature-sensing breast patch. Credit score: College of Bristol
A Ph.D. pupil on the College of Bristol has developed a handy and cost-effective wearable patch to measure refined temperature adjustments throughout the breast, which may in future be used to detect potential abnormalities and cancerous tumors.
Marah Alassaf has lengthy been serious about making use of engineering and digital well being options to most cancers detection. That took on a extra private dimension throughout her undergraduate research in Syria, when two ladies she knew, each of their early thirties, have been instantly identified with breast most cancers.
Alassaf, now within the ultimate 12 months of her Ph.D., stated, “Seeing their experiences really challenged my understanding of the disease. Both the friend and neighbor seemed healthy and active, but because routine screening isn’t usually offered to younger women and alternative options were limited, their cancers were diagnosed at a later stage. That motivated me to explore how technology could support earlier detection, especially for women who might otherwise be overlooked.”
Constructing on her engineering background, Alassaf accomplished an MSc in Superior Microelectronic Techniques Engineering on the College of Bristol, supported by a Suppose Massive postgraduate scholarship. That led to a Ph.D. on the UK Analysis & Innovation (UKRI) Engineering and Bodily Sciences Analysis Council (EPSRC) Centre for Doctoral Coaching (CDT) in Digital Well being and Care, the place she started translating her analysis concepts into tangible instruments.
“What started as a research idea evolved into a determination to develop practical, non-invasive wearable solutions for earlier cancer detection,” she stated.
Supported by her supervisor, Dr. Faezeh Arab Hassani, senior lecturer in microelectronics, who leads a analysis staff specializing in growing numerous versatile digital gadgets for well being care purposes, Alassaf created an ultra-thin, versatile, non-invasive patch that includes 9 versatile temperature sensors. The patch gently adheres to the pores and skin and maps refined temperature variations throughout the breast, which can sign underlying abnormalities. Most cancers cells typically develop and unfold quickly, growing blood circulate and metabolism within the affected space, resulting in a slight localized rise in temperature.
Alassaf stated, “I designed and fabricated this patch from scratch to evolve naturally to the physique and supply real-time mapping of refined temperature variations throughout the breast floor. Whereas nonetheless in early improvement, the purpose is to discover how this low-cost, skin-like sensor patch may assist broaden entry to screening and complement present instruments.
“In the long term, it could support convenient at-home monitoring for higher-risk individuals, such as those with a family history or genetic predisposition, helping reduce the need for repeated clinical visits.”
In the summertime, Alassaf led and introduced a analysis paper on this work on the Establishment of Engineering and Expertise (IEEE) Worldwide Convention on Versatile Printable Sensors and Techniques (FLEPS) 2025 in Singapore, the place it acquired second place within the Pupil Greatest Paper Award.
The ultra-thin temperature-sensing patch proven on a mannequin breast. Credit score: College of Bristol
Breast most cancers is a number one reason behind cancer-related deaths in ladies, with 2.3 million new circumstances and 670,000 deaths reported in 2022. Early detection considerably improves prognosis; nevertheless, standard screening strategies comparable to mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are sometimes hindered by excessive prices, restricted accessibility, and affected person discomfort. These limitations spotlight the potential for non-invasive, cost-effective, and accessible applied sciences to enrich present diagnostic strategies.
Research co-author Dr. Hassani stated, “Thermal imaging, or thermography, has lengthy been used to detect irregular warmth patterns within the physique. Nevertheless, it sometimes requires specialised infrared cameras and medical environments. It is a handy, non-invasive innovation.
“Although still in development stages, the introduction of a temperature-sensing patch has the potential to complement mammography, the current standard for breast cancer screening, especially in low-resource health care settings where access to advanced imaging equipment may be limited.”
To date, the researchers have examined the patch on breast fashions designed to simulate tumors utilizing managed warmth sources. The subsequent step is to guage its efficiency on precise breast most cancers circumstances to see how properly it detects tumors in real-world circumstances. Future work can even deal with enhancing picture high quality by elevated sensor density, evaluating efficiency below mechanical deformation, and conducting prolonged testing to make sure long-term reliability for early-stage most cancers detection.
Government director of analysis and innovation at Most cancers Analysis UK, Dr. Iain Foulkes, stated, “Finding new and better ways to detect cases earlier is key in our mission to beat cancer. This is early-stage research, but this temperature-sensing patch technology could potentially be used alongside screening programs and other tools to help us catch more cases of breast cancer sooner and save lives. It may also prove valuable in countries where access to traditional breast mammography is limited.”
For Alassaf, the invention marks the beginning of an thrilling vocation, which can contain growing different pioneering digital well being applied sciences.
She added, “I’m looking forward to rigorously testing the patch and have also been working on other wearable tools, including a glove with integrated sensors to support breast self-examination. Seeing prototypes from my hands-on studies at Bristol progress to real-world applications motivates me to continue refining and advancing this work.”
Professor Charlotte Deane, govt chair of UKRI EPSRC, stated, “Supporting gifted early profession researchers to translate concepts into sensible well being care options is central to EPSRC’s mission.
“This pioneering work shows how engineering and digital health can combine to improve cancer detection and, ultimately, people’s lives.”
Extra info:
Marah Alassaf et al, Versatile Ultrathin Temperature Sensor Array as a Patch for Early Breast Most cancers Detection, 2025 IEEE Worldwide Convention on Versatile and Printable Sensors and Techniques (FLEPS) (2025). DOI: 10.1109/FLEPS65444.2025.11105606
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