Early warning

摘要

Research to detect early-stage prostate cancer is being carried out by a European project, combining targeted microbubbles and highly sensitive ultrasound equipment. The €2m (￡1.6m) Targeted Microbubbles and Remote Ultrasound Transducer collaboration involves microbubble specialist Bracco, echo-graphic systems developer Esaote, medical probe manufacturer Vermon, signal processing company Signal GeneriX, and academic research partners. Dr Eric Allemann, head of microbubble development at Bracco Group, said: 'Our technology is mainly used to create contrast agents for X-ray, MRI and ultrasound. 'The microbubbles are a mixture of phospho-lipids which, using a patent method, are dispersed in aqueous media then freeze-dried.