Palpa: Breast Self-Exam Teaching Device

Summary

In Chile, three out of every ten breast cancer diagnoses correspond to women under 40 who have physical features in their breasts that reduce the effectiveness of a mammogram. This means that 30% of breast cancer cases should be diagnosed using alternative methods, such as self-examination. 

In this context, empowering women to learn becomes an effective tool for spotting breast abnormalities, as well as a necessary routine for prevention. With this purpose in mind, Palpa® was designed as a device to help women conduct the breast self-exam as part of their daily lives. 

Palpa is a shower sponge that women can use to practice the breast self-exam technique. It is a silicone device with a massager on the bottom that is filled with liquid soap to simulate the density of a real breast. When using the sponge, women can feel a tumor on the inside and thus train themselves in the proper technique and motions required to be able to recognize tumors. This is helpful in preparing women to perform the exam more safely.

Advantages/Potential Applications

Allows women to naturally incorporate the preventative breast self-exam into their daily bath routine.

Aids women in learning how to correctly administer the breast self-exam. 

Development Status

System validation in real environment. 

Intellectual Property

Chilean Patent No. 3721-2019 pending.

Opportunities

• Potential tool for use in public and private breast cancer prevention campaigns.
• Potential for use in corporate personal care programs

Research Team

• Bernardita Figueroa, Professor at UC School of Design 
• Josefa Cortés, UC Design Student