Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in women. One in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. While mammograms are the current standard of care, they do have significant limitations. Mammograms fail to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue, who are already at higher risk for breast cancer. Furthermore, insurance companies typically do not cover the cost of exams for women under 50.

iSono Health is a company launching out of our Winter 2016 class that wants to empower women to take charge of their health through proactive, at-home screenings. Their first product is an affordable and automated ultrasound device that only takes 2 minutes to use. This device captures 3D ultrasound images that can later be accessed through its secure app.

Using a machine-learning algorithm that track changes over time, iSono Health can detect abnormal growths at their earliest stages. If the app detects any abnormalities, it automatically shares the images with a radiologist, who then provides feedback directly to the user. With gradual monitoring, users have access to accurate and actionable data that can potentially save lives.

Both co-founders, Dr. Maryam Ziaei and Dr. Shadi Saberi, had close family members and friends battle breast cancer. As a result, they wanted to build an affordable solution that helps detect breast cancer early on. Dr. Ziaei graduated from Stanford University with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and developed sensors for consumer electronics. Dr. Saberi graduated with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon and worked at Broadcom since 2012, developing circuits and systems.

iSono Health will be launching a crowdfunding campaign soon. Sign up for updates here.