Product Design
Rendering
3D Modelling
Research
Blumia:
Speculative design of a wearable for early detection of breast cancer.
The project
Despite significant progress, the fight against breast cancer still presents serious gaps in terms of prevention and access to early diagnosis. Current techniques are effective medical tools, but they are insufficient to meet the needs of the entire female population, especially in certain vulnerable or reluctant groups. The reality is that many women: Avoid attending checkups due to fear, discomfort, lack of time, or ignorance. They are affected by the psychological effects of waiting or the process itself. They lack equitable access to medical services for economic, geographic, or cultural reasons. They do not fall within the age ranges established by population screening programs (for example, those under 45 with a family history). Furthermore, traditional methods are temporary and discontinuous, meaning that months or even years can pass between one test and the next without any follow-up. This discontinuity in monitoring can be critical, as cancer can develop silently during this interval. Therefore, the need is urgent. Incorporating this early detection capability into an everyday device has the potential to radically change the current approach to prevention, making it more inclusive, empathetic, and effective.
Pain point
Breast cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide.
The figures are alarming and highlight a problem that goes beyond the medical level, touching on social, economic, and psychological aspects:
- In Spain, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
- Every 78 minutes, a woman dies in the country from this disease.
- In 2022, 34,750 new cases and between 6,500 and 7,000 deaths from breast cancer were reported in Spain alone.
- Globally, there were 2.3 million cases, with 450,000 deaths.
- It is estimated that there are six times more deaths from breast cancer than from traffic accidents in Spain.
Beyond the data, there are structural and emotional problems that hinder adequate detection:
- Current technologies perceived as invasive: Mammograms and other tests can cause pain, discomfort, or anxiety. This contributes to the abandonment or postponement of medical checkups.
- Lack of universal access: In rural areas or those with lesser healthcare infrastructure, distance or cost prevent regular access to checkups.
- Stigma and fear: Many women prefer "not to know" or postpone medical appointments for fear of the diagnosis.
- Groups excluded from screening programs: Young women, people without an obvious medical history, or groups with misinformation often do not have access to preventive campaigns.
- Lack of continuous follow-up: Traditional tests are performed infrequently, leaving long periods without any follow-up.
- Lack of knowledge about self-examination: Education on prevention is scarce. Many women do not know how to perform a basic checkup or are not in the habit of monitoring changes in their bodies.
- Overdiagnosis and anxiety: Between 10% and 30% of cancers detected by screening may be overdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary testing and psychological problems.
The prevention and early detection of breast cancer still face significant limitations. Despite medical advances, diagnosis remains inaccessible to many women due to social, economic, emotional, and technological barriers, which delays detection and decreases the chances of survival. The main problems this project seeks to address are detailed below:
a) Late diagnosis and irregular follow-up. Breast cancer detection remains late, even in developed countries. Mammograms are sporadic and allow lesions to progress undetected. In Spain, 6% of cases are diagnosed late; in other contexts, it exceeds 40%.
b) Limited access to diagnosis. Screening depends on factors such as location, socioeconomic status, and age (focused only on women aged 45 to 69), excluding those who are also at risk.
c) Fear and refusal to take tests. Many women avoid testing due to fear or negative experiences. Mammograms are perceived as invasive, which contributes to follow-up abandonment. 22% do not participate in screening campaigns.
d) Lack of continuous follow-up. The system offers only specific evaluations, without home monitoring. This prevents rapid response to suspicious changes.
e) Risk of metastasis due to late detection. Late diagnosis increases the risk of cancer spreading to other organs, complicating treatment and reducing life expectancy.
f) Inequality and misinformation. Cultural, educational, and social factors limit knowledge about self-examination and initial symptoms, generating inequalities in prevention.
g) Reactive, non-preventive system. The system prioritizes treatment over prevention, with scarce resources for campaigns, education, or accessible technologies.
The design
Blumia's design was conceived to offer maximum comfort and adaptability. The main physical elements and technical characteristics are:
- Adjustable Heart Rate Monitor Belt: This component ensures precise positioning of the device in the breast and axillary area, allowing for an ergonomic fit that adapts to various body shapes. Its design is inspired by the functionality of sports heart rate monitors, ensuring stability during daily use.
- Electronic Component Housing: This is a removable and rechargeable module that houses the main circuitry and sensors.
Charging is via a USB-C port, offering compatibility with current charging standards. Wireless connectivity is established via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), facilitating data transmission to the user's smartphone with optimized power consumption. The reference material for the housing is PP (Polypropylene), a thermoplastic polymer known for its strength, lightness, and ease of processing, ideal for electronic components that require a durable housing and a soft-touch finish.
Blumia incorporates two types of sensor patches: one designed specifically for the breast area and another for the
armpit area. Both feature a curved shape that optimizes their adhesion and adaptation to the female anatomy
in these key areas for early detection. The inclusion of the axillary patch is especially important, since the lymph nodes in the armpit are a common route for the spread of breast cancer, and monitoring them is essential for detecting potential metastases early. In addition, the patches have a color scale that allows them to be customized according to different skin tones, thus ensuring greater aesthetic discretion and visual comfort for the user. The material used for these patches is TPO (a blend of polypropylene and EPDM), a thermoplastic combined with elastomer that offers strength, durability, and flexibility, as well as a pleasant texture. This biocompatibility is key for a wearable that will be in prolonged contact with the skin. The connection between the patches and the electronic housing is via cables, ensuring stable, reliable, and low-latency data transmission from the measurement points to the central system.
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