"Compression-only" behavior of phospholipid-coated contrast bubbles

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2007 Apr;33(4):653-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2006.09.016.

Abstract

Ultrasound contrast agents oscillate approximately linearly up to a certain pressure range where nonlinearity sets in. Nonlinear microbubble oscillations are exploited in ultrasound pulse-echo imaging as this improves the contrast-to-tissue ratio. Here we report the observation of a highly nonlinear response of phospholipid-coated contrast agents at pressures as low as 50 kPa, termed "compression-only" behavior, where the microbubbles only compress, yet hardly expand. Time-resolved bubble dynamics recorded through ultra high-speed imaging revealed that nearly 40% of the coated bubbles show "compression-only" behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Contrast Media*
  • Humans
  • Microbubbles*
  • Phospholipids
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed / instrumentation
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed / methods*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Phospholipids