High contrast-to-tissue ratio imaging technique using the unique vaporization signature from phase-change contrast agents

摘要

Phase-Change Contrast Agents (PCCAs) are liquid core droplets that can be vaporized, or activated, into echogenic microbubbles with the application of ultrasound. The vaporization event produces a unique acoustic signature that is different from that produced by tissue and microbubbles. In this work, the ability to produce high CTR images using the unique low frequency vaporization signature of PCCAs is demonstrated using a clinical array.