Scientists in France have developed an ultrasound technique that can rapidly build up a 3D view of a network of blood vessels, in microscopic detail.

They used it to scan the blood vessels throughout the brain of a live rat.

Within a few years, the researchers say their system could reach the clinic and help with cancer and stroke diagnosis.

For the procedure, published in Nature, the rat was injected with millions of very tiny bubbles, which reflect sound waves much better than blood vessels.

This is what makes these bubbles, which are already used for some scans in humans, a “contrast agent” for ultrasound.

Within a few years, the system could be used by doctors. The team is already beginning clinical experiments – beginning with liver scans.

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