Patent ID: 6858011

Claim:
A quantitative method for enhanced ultrasound imaging of fluid flow or perfusion, wherein gas-filled microbubbles are used as ultrasound contrast-enhancing agents, and wherein the method comprises: injecting at least one contrast agent that transits to the area or image plane to be imaged by ultra sound; generating and transmitting a single-beam ultrasound gated pulse sequence to the image plane, wherein the gated imaging pulse sequence varies in repetition frequency (frame rates) under the control of a data acquisition controller means, distinguishing removal of the contrast agent due to flow resulting from removal of the contrast agent due to bubble destruction for enhanced image processing; thereby synchronizing and providing acquisition of multiple dilution curves per single injection of said contrast agent(s) resulting from the varied systematic and controlled exposing of the microbubbles to the ultrasound pulses, while maintaining the signal intensity of the pulse at less than high power intensity during transit of the contrast agent(s); acquiring and digitizing images at each pulse; and computing changes in image brightness as a function of time during transit of the at least one contrast agent, thereby detecting changes in microbubble concentration within the image plane, independent of flow direction or attenuation of signal by selection of the at least one contrast agent or material within the plane.