Wearable automated 3D breast ultrasound with AI
Official title: ATUSA: World's First Wearable and Automated 3D Breast Ultrasound System with AI
Funded at Isono Health, INC. · NIH-11187050 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A wearable automated 3D ultrasound that uses AI to help screen women for breast cancer, especially those with dense breasts or limited access to mammography.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Isono Health, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (South San Francisco, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 6, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $956,621 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA291498-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11187050 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women due for breast cancer screening—particularly those aged 40 and older, with dense breast tissue, living in rural or underserved areas, or who avoid mammograms because of discomfort—would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People already undergoing diagnostic imaging, biopsy, or treatment for known breast cancer, or those with contraindications to ultrasound, may not benefit from this screening device.
What this research studies
This project builds a wearable device that automatically scans the whole breast with 3D ultrasound while you wear it. The device pairs the automated acquisition with AI image analysis to flag areas that may need follow-up. It is intended to reduce dependence on specially trained sonographers and to be more comfortable than traditional mammography. The approach aims to improve early detection, particularly for women with dense breasts or who live in low-resource areas.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could make breast screening more accessible and help detect cancers earlier, especially for women with dense breasts or limited access to mammography.
How similar studies have gone: Automated whole-breast ultrasound systems and AI interpretation have shown promise in improving detection in women with dense breasts, but fully wearable automated 3D ultrasound devices are largely new.
Where this research is happening
-
Isono Health, INC.
South San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saberi, Shadi — Isono Health, INC.
- Study coordinator: Saberi, Shadi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.