This New High-Tech Wonder Bra May Help Detect Breast Cancer The invention uses infrared sensors to monitor temperature.

By Lindsay Friedman

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

ThirdLove

Forget specially trained dogs. Now, there's a high-tech "wonder bra" that may be able to detect cancer by tracking fluctuations in breast temperature.

A group of Colombian scientists claimed to have created a bra that can detect malignant cells, and ultimately, breast cancer, the Mirror reports.

Related: A Bra Company That Uses Smartphones to Find the Right Fit Just Raised $8 Million

The bra, which is equipped with special software and infrared sensors, monitors breast temperature, tracking changes in temperature that occur throughout the day. In healthy breast tissue, there is typically a wide range of fluctuations that occur within a 24-hour window. Malignant breast tissue, meanwhile, typically maintains a relatively even temperature throughout the day. By picking up on this change early, the bra aims to help wearers catch cancer close to the time of onset, before it spreads and is difficult to treat.

Researchers from the National University of Colombia began working on the project last June. To date, the bra has been tested on 500 women, with a 87 percent accuracy rate for detecting tumors. That's a small sample size, but the company is slated to start large-scale clinical studies in California, India and Singapore.

Related: Weird But True: Microsoft Is Developing a Stress-Monitoring Bra

The device still has a few kinks to work out, however. For example, users must wear the bra for a long period of time for an accurate reading. Analysis could also potentially be skewed because of events like hot flashes.

Though specialists see the potential for a device like this in the future, some like H. Gilbert Welch, a professor at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and the author of Less Medicine, More Health are still skeptical pending further research.

"It is way too early to suggest that monitoring circadian temperature changes in the breast will help anybody," Welch told SmithsonianMag.com. "While it's tempting to believe 'newer is always better,' this is a totally untested technology that may well prove to produce more harm than good."

Still, as the scientists behind the bra stress, the goal isn't to replace a doctor or regular screenings, but to add another tool to help fight the disease.


Lindsay Friedman

Staff writer. Frequently covers franchise news and food trends.

Lindsay Friedman is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Buying / Investing in Business

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market

Co-ownership is creating big opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Franchise

The Hottest Industries Today

Our list of the franchises best positioned for growth, even in uncertain times.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Starting a Business

Entrepreneur+ Subscriber-Only Event | May 28: How This Founder Sold 3 Million Units of His Toy Ball Idea

Subscribe to Entrepreneur+ for just $5! Get access to all member benefits, including our next Subscriber-Only Event with Joe Burke, Founder of Ollyball.

Business News

The U.S. Mint Announced It Will Stop Making Pennies. Here's How It Will Affect Businesses and Consumers.

Can you still pay with pennies? How will businesses make exact change? Here's what we know.

Marketing

How to Get Your First 1,000 Email Subscribers (The Smart Way)

Here's a step-by-step system for startup founders to build their first 1,000 engaged email subscribers — without guesswork or gimmicks.