NIRAMAI, which stands for Non-Invasive Risk Assessment with Machine Intelligence, uses thermography and machine learning to detect early signs of breast cancer. Manjunath says that while mammography is one of the most popular technology solutions to detect breast cancer today, it has its limitations. A mammogram is usually done on women above the age of 45 (as breast density of younger women makes mammography inconclusive) and use of X-rays for screening is debatable. Moreover, the process of taking a mammogram is a painful, uncomfortable ordeal for women, too.
NIRAMAI addresses these concerns as it is contact-free, radiation-free and the technology leads to fewer false positives. It is also a cost-effective option. While a digital mammography costs around $54 USD (3,500 Rupees), a scan done by NIRAMAI costs around $15 USD (1,000 Rupees), explains Manjunath. “In addition to running the test in diagnostic labs, we also conduct free screenings at rural healthcare centers, and corporate camps where we charge women $1.50 to $3 USD per scan (100 to 200 Rupees per scan).”
NIRAMAI is being used in clinics in Bangalore currently, and Dr. Manjunath has been receiving inquiries from Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai. She plans to take her product to Dubai, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and the United States.
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