X-ray Contrast Agent Technology

Christoph de Haën, born September 9, 1940 in Switzerland, studied chemistry and biology in Lausanne, Zurich, and Rome, earning a master’s degree in chemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), followed by a PhD in molecular biology at the same institution. After a postdoctoral fellowship in biochemistry at the University of Washington, Seattle, he became research faculty at the same institution, jointly appointed in the Departments of Medicine (Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism) and Biochemistry. There he moved up the ranks to Research Full Professor and Graduate Faculty. In mid-career he joined the Bracco company, a worldwide active pharmaceutical corporation, headquartered in Milan, Italy. There he held various leadership positions in global research and development, including Head of the Milano Research Center and Scientific Advisor to the Bracco Group of Companies. The principle field of activity was contrast agents for various diagnostic imaging modalities. His publications span a wide variety of fields, including social science ones. He retired in 2005 and lives in Switzerland.

Chapter 1 Introduction, Chapter 2 Methodological Considerations, Historical and Sociological Perspectives, Technological Innovation, The Analytical Model of Technology Genesis and Shaping, Chapter 3 Assembly of a Technological Vision for X-Ray Contrast Agents, Chapter 4 Uro-Angiographic Contrast Agents—The Holy Grail, Technology Genesis Phase, History, From Sodium Iodide to Uro-selectan Sodium and Methiodal Sodium, Contrasting Historical Interpretations, The Dynamics of Technology Genesis, The Failure of One-Dimensional Reductionism, Technical Knowledge from Interference of Different Knowledge Cultures, Interference as Communication and Individuation of Knowledge.