Device delivers radiation-free breast tumour detection

An ultrasound device for radiation-free breast cancer screening has been awarded the 2016 Spark Award

The technology was developed by ETH Zurich researchers, Orçun Göksel and Sergio Sanabria and delivers a radiation-free ultrasound to detect breast cancer tumours and other diseases, according to ETH Zurich.

The ultrasonic measurement can be used to diagnose various tissue changes, in particular to detect tumours.

The researchers developed a probe head with an accompanying image processing programme that uses ultrasound waves.

Instead of the standard practice of measuring the backscattering of sound, the device developed by ETH researchers measures the time taken by an ultrasound wave to travel through tissues.

It takes more time for ultrasound waves to travel through soft tissue than stiff tissue. Tumours are made up of stiff tissue so sound waves can pass through them faster, which helps the device to identify tumours or growths, according to ETH Zurich.

 “The technology stands out thanks to its potential for quick acceptance and application in the medical market," said Detlef Günther, ETH vice president research and corporate relations.

Göksel and Sergio Sanabria, a scientist in Göksel's group said: “"This award is a turning point for us and a wonderful recognition of a year and a half of intensive research. It demonstrates the applicability of our method."

Patient trials of the device are currently being carried out in collaboration with University Hospital Zurich. If all goes as hoped, the two researchers will either found a start-up or search for a partner to license the technology, according to ETH Zurich.