Stichting Voor De Technische Wetenschappen

Fujifilm Visualsonics, Inc.

Stichting Voor De Technische Wetenschappen of Van Vollenhovenlaan

David Eric Goertz

Martijn Egbert Frijlink

F Stuart Foster

Antonius Franciscus Wilhelmus Van Der Steen

Antonius Franciscus Van Der Steen

Provided herein are compositions comprising a microbubble contrast agent, wherein at least 20% by volume of the microbubbles in the contrast agent has a size of less than 1 micron, wherein the contrast agent produces non-linear scattering when contacted by ultrasound at a frequency above 20 MHz. Provided herein are compositions comprising a microbubble contrast agent, wherein at least 10% by volume of the microbubbles in the contrast agent has a size of less than 500 nanometers, wherein the contrast agent produces non-linear scattering when contacted by ultrasound at a frequency above 20 MHz. Provided herein are compositions comprising a microbubble contrast agent, wherein at least 5% by volume of the microbubbles in the contrast agent has a size of less than 200 nanometers, wherein the contrast agent produces non-linear scattering when contacted by ultrasound at a frequency above 20 MHz. The disclosed contrast agents can be targeted contrast agents. Further provided are methods of using the compositions disclosed herein. Specifically provided are methods for producing an ultrasound image comprising: administering contrast agent to a laboratory animal; generating ultrasound at a frequency of at least 20 MHz; transmitting ultrasound at a frequency of at least 20 MHz into the subject; receiving non-linear ultrasound from the contrast agent in the subject; processing the received ultrasound to provide an image.

High frequency ultrasound imaging using contrast agents

Intravascular ultrasound techniques provide for intravascular imaging using contrast agents and nonlinear techniques. An ultrasound imaging device for detecting internal properties of a target body comprises an ultrasound transducer positioned at a distal end portion of a catheter, for transmitting excitation pulses and for receiving echo signals. A signal processor analyses echo signals at harmonics and/or subharmonics of the transmit frequency. The catheter may include a contrast agent delivery conduit extending along the catheter, the delivery conduit having an exit orifice proximal to the ultrasound transducer. The device may discriminate between echo signals respectively arising from interaction with tissue and from the interaction with contrast agent. The device may generate an image of the site of interest using non-linear components of the received ultrasound echo signals.

Intravascular ultrasound techniques

Provided herein are Pulse-Inversion (PI) sequences that provide for fundamental frequency suppression in nonlinear imaging applications. In an embodiment, a weighting scheme is applied to the received echo pulses resulting from transmit pulses of alternating polarity to reduce the effect of transducer motion. In an embodiment, a three-pulse weighting scheme is applied to a PI sequence. In other embodiments, different combinations of the three-pulse weighting scheme are applied to a PI sequence.

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Rotterdam, Netherlands

David Eric Goertz