| Theme | Imaging Diagnostics of Liver Disease | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Novel Ultrasound Contrast Agents | |
| Publish Date | 2002/01 | |
| Author | Fuminori Moriyasu | Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical University |
| Author | Hiroko Iijima | Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical University |
| [ Summary ] | Levovist(R) is a "high MI agent" and the new next generation agents are low MI ones. The signal from the former type agents is produced by destruction of microbubbles with high MI acoustic pressure and other methods, mainly using subtraction techniques through reduction of tissue signals. On the other hand, non signals can be continuously obtained by vibrating microbubbles with low acoustic pressure, as in the case of the low MI agents. Real time perfusion imaging with a high sensitivity is possible because of decreased tissue harmonic components. A method using an inverted pulse, such as pulse inversion harmonic imaging, is used for these agents. Recently, new techniques in which a higher sensitivity can be obtained from vibrating microbubbles have been developed and applied to clinical settings. |
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