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Bionic breast exam glove inspired by Star Trek


People in rural areas far from hospitals may benefit from a new Star Trek-inspired bionic glove that can detect breast cancer and abnormal lymph nodes, a tech site reported.
 
Developed by three innovators at Singularity University, the robotic hand has ultrasonic sensors that can help it detect such irregularities, Mashable said.
 
"Our team created a glove that solves the lack of availability of physical exams around the world. Since sensor technologies are improving and becoming cheaper, we believe now is the time for instrumentation gloves to be applied to medicine in a way that integrates sensor technology and aids and augments the abilities of a physician without taking him/her away from the bedside," Fransiska Hadiwidjana, one of the developers, told Mashable.
 
Dubbed the "Med Sensation," the glove has wires sticking out of it. Each finger has sensors that can detect temperature, vibrations and sound.
 
Other developers included Andrew Bishara and Elishai Ezra, who came up with the "Med Sensation" in response to the university’s Graduate Studies Program challenge to build something that can positively impact one billion people in 10 years.
 
So far, the project has been solely funded by Singularity University.
 
Mashable said the three were discussing the medical tricorder in "Star Trek," which can diagnose patients with a quick scan.
 
Bishara, who has a background in medicine, noted the human touch plays a role in healing.
 
“We did some more searching and learned that in a recent study, 26 percent of medical treatments are changed because of physical exam findings,” Hadiwidjana said.
 
Hadiwidjana added breast self-exams came to mind as the "best way to save many lives through quantifying and visualizing touch.”
 
While there are other sensory gloves and wearable smart devices for surgery, Hadiwidjana said they are the first team that has focused on the general physical exam.
 
“Our mission is to provide a paradigm shift in medicine so that future technologies can be integrated seamlessly into physician-patient relationship instead of taking the physician away from the bedside. This will allow physicians to do more of the diagnosis at the first patient visit and reduce healthcare costs,” Hadiwidjana said. — TJD, GMA News
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