Visualize and Understand Patterns of Blood Flow

Microbubble ultrasound contrast agents have been used in imaging as a means of improving the visualization of blood flow with respect to the surrounding tissue.

These micron-sized particles consist of a gas core surrounded by a lipid shell, and are injected intravenously into the circulatory system. Understanding the patterns of blood flow is a powerful tool for evaluating the differences between normal and pathological tissues.

These microbubbles can either be Non-targeted for visualization of blood flow and perfusion, or conjugated to a molecular target to enable true in vivo molecular imaging.

Microbubbles are visualized and quantified using Non-linear Contrast Mode.

Non-linear contrast agent imaging uses multiple ultrasound pulses in which the amplitude of the pulse is modulated. Within this imaging mode, the nonlinear response of the microbubbles to the ultrasound pulses is utilized. The goal of nonlinear contrast imaging is to suppress the tissue signal while increasing the detection of the contrast agents, providing a much more sensitive imaging technique.