Breast density measurement tool

Lululemon develops and markets athletic apparel including women’s bras. Some women experience difficulty finding the appropriate bra to achieve adequate support without discomfort [1]. Lululemon is experienced in tissue biomechanics models of the breast including measurement of tissue movement, forces and accelerations in an effort to better understand the complex issues around bra performance. Nevertheless, gaps remain in this understanding, and current measurement tools do not provide measurements of all tissue properties, such as breast density. Therefore, opportunities exist to keep improving bra design and fitting. UBC has expertise and novel technology in the measurement of tissue biomechanics including ultrasound-based measurement tools. Ultrasound has been used successfully in women’s health, for almost a century, such as during pregnancy, because of the safe nature of the ultrasound waves and the rich information in the ultrasound signals. This project aims to develop a portable breast density measurement tool that is accurate and easy to use. Such a tool will be used by Lululemon in fundamental research on tissue biomechanics such as enhancing their computational models of the breast. In the longer term, such a tool can be envisioned for use in customized/personal fitting and for adaptive apparel.

Faculty Supervisor:

Robert Rohling

Student:

Partner:

Lululemon

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Manufacturing; Retail trade

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: