High-frequency, nonlinear flow imaging of microbubble contrast agents.
It has been shown that nonlinear scattering can be stimulated from microbubble contrast agents at high-transmit frequencies (14-32 MHz). This work was extended to demonstrate the feasibility of nonlinear contrast imaging through modifications of existing ultrasound biomicroscopy linear B-scan imaging instrumentation. In this study, we describe the development and evaluation of prototype coherent flow imaging instrumentation for nonlinear microbubble imaging using transmit frequencies from 10 to 50 MHz. Phantom validation experiments were conducted to demonstrate color and power flow imaging using nonlinear 10 MHz (subharmonic) scattering induced by a 20 MHz transmit frequency. In vivo flow imaging of a rabbit ear microvessel was successfully performed. This work indicates the feasibility of performing flow imaging at high frequencies using nonlinear scattering from microbubbles.
Goertz
David E
DE
Needles
Andrew
A
Burns
Peter N
PN
Foster
F Stuart
FS
D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004423:Ear / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D045423:Microbubbles; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D011817:Rabbits; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods