Innovative 3-dimensional optoacoustic imaging for safe breast cancer screening
Breast cancer is a global challenge representing the leading cause of death for women worldwide: according to the
estimates of WHO, there were over 2 million new cases in 2018, with a projection of more than 3 million individuals by 2040.
It is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage while early detection greatly increases the chances for successful treatment.
The 2 components of early detection are mass screening and early diagnosis. Currently, most diffuse population-based
screening programs for breast cancer are based on mammography. Weighing the harms against the benefits of these
programs has led WHO not to recommend mammography screening in women less than 50 years of age. Mammography
has been the medical industry’s “gold standard” breast cancer screening tool for nearly four decades. Today a number of
adverse effects, backed up by mounting scientific evidence, are limiting the use of mammography as a mass screening
device. LOUISA-3D uses safe light and sound to provide safer and accurate breast cancer screening. The LOUISA-3D
innovation consists of a novel optoacoustic imaging method that allows one to see under the skin through the tissues with
high spatial resolution by listening to the sound of light absorbed in the body which can be used for detection and diagnostics
of cancer and vascular diseases. During the phase 1 project, a go-to-market strategy and a supply chain will be established,
as well as further development plan will be drafted. Within the overall innovation project Tomowave will finalize its
engineering of LOUISA-3D before scaling up for clinical trials and system industrialization.