Echo Contrast

Biomedical and Biotechnology. The use of mictocapsules for a variety of biomedical and biological appHcations has been promoted for many years (50,51). Several biomedical mictocapsule appHcations ate in clinical use or have approached clinical use. One appHcation is the use of air-fiUed human albumin mictocapsules as ultrasound contrast agents. Such mictocapsules, caUed mictobubbles, ate formed by ultrasonicating 5% albumin solutions to produce 4—10-)J.m diameter air-fiUed capsules (52). When injected the capsules act as a useful transpulmonary echo contrast agent (53) that has been approved for use in humans by the U.S. FDA. 

Keywords. Microbubbles, Ultrasound contrast. Echo contrast imaging... 

What are the Problems with Ultrasound and Echo Contrast Agents 76... 

Targeted Imaging of Microbubbles or other Echo Contrast Agents. . 99... 

Kawaguchi M, Murabayashi T, Fetics BJ, et al. Quantitation of basal dyssynchrony and acute resynchronization from left or biventricular pacing by novel echo-contrast variability imaging. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2002 39 2052-8. 

Echocardiography is useful in risk assessment for thromboembolism. TEE is superior in the detection of reduced flow velocities and spontaneous echo contrast in the left atrium and LAA (9). Patients with AF and complex atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta have a substantially higher risk for stroke (10,1 I). 

Left atrial thrombus Left atrial appendage thrombus Spontaneous echo contrast Intracardiac tumors Atrial septal defect ... 

Binder T, Assayag P, Baer F, Flachskampf F, Kamp O, Nienaber C, Nihoyannopoulos P, Pierard L, Steg G, Vanoverschelde JL, Van der Wouw P, Meland N, Marelli C, Lindvall K. NClOOlOO, a new echo contrast agent for the assessment of myocardial perfusion—safety and comparison with technetium-99m sestamibi singlephoton emission computed tomography in a randomized multicenter study. Clin Cardiol 1999 22(4) 273-82. 

Schulte-Altedorneburg G, Demharter J, Linn R et al (2003) Does ultrasound contrast agent improve the diagnostic value of colour and power Doppler sonography in superficial lymph node enlargement Eur J Radiol 48 252-257 Smith MD, Elion JL, McClure RR et al (1984) Left heart opacification with peripheral venous injection of a new saccharide echo contrast agent in dogs. J Am Coll Cardiol 13 1622-1628... 

Kindle, A. J. and Perkins, A. C., 1995, History and basic principles of echo-contrast media. Brif. Med. Ultrasound Bulletin, 3 (No 1) 17-23. 

Blomley M (1997) Functional techniques with microhuhhles. In Nanda N, Schleif R, Goldberg B (eds) Advances in echo-contrast. Kluwer, Dordrecht... 

---