Patent ID: 6533727
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
An ultrasound system for imaging a microbubble contrast agent in a region of fluid flow or tissue perfused with blood or other fluid, said system comprising:transducer means for transmitting ultrasound signals having a fundamental frequency f at a sufficient power level to destroy said microbubble contrast agent to produce echo signals having a greater bandwidth and a lower amplitude than the transmitted ultrasound signals and for receiving said echo signals resulting from interaction of said ultrasound signals with both tissue and said microbubbles; receiver means for receiving said echo signals and for selectively extracting signal components therefrom comprising one or more frequency bands located between integer multiples of said frequency f; and computation means for producing images principally from signal components falling within said one or more frequency bands located between integer multiples of said frequency f, wherein said frequency f is 1.3 MHz, said one or more frequency bands located between integer multiples of said frequency f is 3.6 MHz and said receiver means extracts signals having a bandwidth of about 0.8 MHz, centered at 3,6 MHz.