Patent ID: 6561982
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
A method for ultrasound imaging of the heart region of a patient in the presence of contrast agents, in the field of cardiology, having the following steps:detecting physiological signals; transforming said signals or a part thereof into pulses for controlling activation of an ultrasonic probe pointed to said heart region, to synchronize scanning and echo signal acquisition with said patient's heart cycle; performing image acquisitions at predetermined phases of said heart cycle for predetermined limited times, with a predetermined ultrasonic beam intensity; processing the received signals and transforming them into control signals which are viewable on a display; characterized in that image acquisition takes place exclusively in the systolic phase of each heart cycle from the end of diastole to the end of systole, a certain fixed number of acquisitions per unit time and an intensity of the ultrasonic beams being determined in accordance with a Mechanical Index for controlled destruction of a certain percentage of contrast agent microbubbles.