Breastlight, a device produced by PWB Health Ltd out of Dumbarton, UK, was developed by Highland Innovation Centre (Inverness , UK) to help women spot suspicious breast lumps in the privacy of the home. By shining light of specific frequencies that best penetrates breast tissue, it should be possible to locate darker, and therefore denser spots for further review by a physician.
Here’s more info from the product page:
Breastlight can be used by women of all ages, particularly menopausal or post-menopausal women when the density of the breast tissue has changed. It is also useful for women with fibrous breasts that always feel lumpy. The Breastlight will distinguish between normal breast tissue and areas where blood vessels are present that could indicate a potential abnormality.
Breastlight is designed to give the maximum light transmission through the breast tissue. Even so, only a small fraction of the light will pass through completely – and this is what you will see when you use the product. That’s why it’s important to use Breastlight in a very dark room.
We use red light to give the best contrast and enable you to see the maximum detail. The light is completely harmless and has no invisible rays. You can use Breastlight as often as you like with no side effects.
When the light hits a blood vessel in your breast it is absorbed by haemoglobin. This makes the veins in your breast appear as dark lines.
Malignant lumps have an increased blood supply to feed them so any dense areas may indicate an abnormality. Fluid filled cysts, however, will not absorb the light.
Video demonstrating the Breastlight:
Device page: Breastlight