Researchers Building ‘Bionic Breast’ to Restore Sense of Touch for Mastectomy Patients
Scientists are working on developing a revolutionary new technology that could restore the sense of touch for women who have undergone a mastectomy, a surgery that involves removing one or both breasts.
The “bionic breast” is being created by a team of engineers and scientists at the University of the West of England (UWE) in collaboration with the University of Bristol. The device is designed to mimic the sensation of the breast tissue, recreating the feeling of touch and pressure that is lost after a mastectomy.
The bionic breast is being developed using advanced sensors and algorithms that duplicate the way the brain processes sensory information. It is hoped that the device will be able to send signals to the brain that mimic the sensation of touch, allowing women who have undergone a mastectomy to regain their sense of touch.
The project is being led by Dr. Sophie Wilkinson, a uni tutor in the Department of Engineering at UWE. She explained, “The aim of the project is to restore the sense of touch for women who have had a mastectomy. This can be a life-changing experience, but it also means that the body is no longer able to feel the sensation of touch. We want to change this by developing a device that can mimic the natural sensation of touch.”
The bionic breast is currently being tested and refined, with the aim of making it available to patients in the near future. The team is working closely with cancer patients and healthcare professionals to ensure that the device meets their needs and is effective in restoring the sense of touch.
This breakthrough technology has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for women who have undergone a mastectomy, and could have a profound impact on their body image and overall well-being.
