309 results about "Ultrasound contrast media" patented technology

Ultrasound contrast agents are used to enhance imaging and facilitate HIFU therapy in four different ways. A contrast agent is used: (1) before therapy to locate specific vascular structures for treatment; (2) to determine the focal point of a HIFU therapy transducer while the HIFU therapy transducer is operated at a relatively low power level, so that non-target tissue is not damaged as the HIFU is transducer is properly focused at the target location; (3) to provide a positive feedback mechanism by causing cavitation that generates heat, reducing the level of HIFU energy administered for therapy compared to that required when a contrast agent is not used; and, (4) to shield non-target tissue from damage, by blocking the HIFU energy. Various combinations of these techniques can also be employed in a single therapeutic implementation.

A method for detection of ultrasound contrast agent in soft tissue according to the present invention includes utilizing an ultrasound transmit beam former and transducer array assembly for transmitting directive, focussed ultrasound pressure pulses with steerable transmit amplitude, transmit aperture, transmit focus, and transmit direction, and with temporal frequency components within a limited band B centered at a frequency f0, towards a region of soft tissue that contains ultrasound contrast agent bubbles. The transmit pulse parameters are arranged, preferably using multiple transmit pulses, so that the incident pressure pulse that is utilized for imaging of the contrast agent for a particular depth, has minimal variation over the actual image range. The non-linearly distorted, back-scattered ultrasound signal is received from both the tissue and the ultrasound contrast agent bubbles with the same ultrasound transducer assembly and the received array element signals are passed through a receiver beamformer that has a steerable spatially directive receiver sensitivity.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus for obtaining an ultrasound image of a subject into which an ultrasound contrast agent mainly composed of microbubbles is injected, comprising a probe configured to transmit / receive an ultrasound wave to / from the subject, a transmission circuit configured to drive the probe to transmit an ultrasound wave while sequentially changing a direction of an ultrasound transmission line, a reception circuit configured to generate reception line data of the number of parallel reception from ultrasound echo signals obtained by one ultrasound wave transmission, a transmission / reception control circuit configured to control the transmission and reception circuits to change the number of parallel reception during a scan sequence for generating a 1-frame ultrasound image, and an image processing unit configured to generate an ultrasound image on the basis of the reception line data.

The present invention describes processes for the preparation of a lipid blend and a uniform filterable phospholipid suspension containing the lipid blend, such suspension being useful as an ultrasound contrast agent.

Administration by injection or infusion to patients of an injectable liquid for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes is provided by a syringe adapter connectable with an automatic syringe pump and a syringe containing contents to be dispensed. The syringe adapter includes an adapter body receivable by the syringe pump, a syringe retainer for retaining the syringe, and a syringe driver for agitating the contents of the syringe. More particularly the invention relates to an adapter connectable with a syringe pump and methods for delivery of an injectable liquid using such adapter. By connecting an adapter according to the invention to a syringe and a syringe pump, rotation of the syringe is achieved and homogeneity of the injectable is preserved. Particularly, the injectable liquid is an ultrasound contrast agent comprising an aqueous dispersion of gas-filled microbubbles or of particulate matter.