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Review
. 2001 May 19;322(7296):1222-5.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.322.7296.1222.

Microbubble contrast agents: a new era in ultrasound

M J Blomley  1 , J C Cooke, E C Unger, M J Monaghan, D O Cosgrove
Affiliations
Review

Microbubble contrast agents: a new era in ultrasound

M J Blomley et al. BMJ. .
No abstract available

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Use of microbubbles to demonstrate vesicoureteric reflux. Top figure shows left kidney with a slightly dilated renal pelvis (arrow). Bottom figure shows the same area after microbubbles have been instilled into the bladder. Bright echoes, representing microbubbles can now be seen in the renal pelvis (arrow), indicating vesicoureteric reflux, which was confirmed on x ray micturating cystourethrogram. (Images courtesy of Dr Thomas Albrecht, Benjamin Franklin University, Berlin, Germany)
Figure 1
Figure 1
Use of microbubbles to demonstrate vesicoureteric reflux. Top figure shows left kidney with a slightly dilated renal pelvis (arrow). Bottom figure shows the same area after microbubbles have been instilled into the bladder. Bright echoes, representing microbubbles can now be seen in the renal pelvis (arrow), indicating vesicoureteric reflux, which was confirmed on x ray micturating cystourethrogram. (Images courtesy of Dr Thomas Albrecht, Benjamin Franklin University, Berlin, Germany)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of liver-specific microbubbles on the visualisation of a hepatocellular carcinoma complicating chronic hepatitis B infection. Top figure shows the liver is heterogeneous with an ill defined lesion (arrow). Bottom figure shows the presence of liver-specific microbubbles (Levovist) administered 5 minutes earlier. A defect is clearly seen in the central right lobe of the liver, with several additional defects thought to represent additional satellite foci of hepatocellular carcinoma
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of liver-specific microbubbles on the visualisation of a hepatocellular carcinoma complicating chronic hepatitis B infection. Top figure shows the liver is heterogeneous with an ill defined lesion (arrow). Bottom figure shows the presence of liver-specific microbubbles (Levovist) administered 5 minutes earlier. A defect is clearly seen in the central right lobe of the liver, with several additional defects thought to represent additional satellite foci of hepatocellular carcinoma
Figure 3
Figure 3
Echocardiographic image of the left ventricle using real time imaging of perfusion and an intravenous microbubble as contrast agent. The contrast agent fills the ventricular cavity, clearly delineating the endocardial border, and gives colour enhancement in the myocardium, showing perfusion of the apex and septum (arrows)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Diagram of a microbubble constructed for drug delivery. Gas-filled microspheres may be designed so that their interior is loaded with drug and gas. A stabilising material, here a lipid, surrounds the perfluorocarbon bubble. Drugs may be incorporated by themselves or, if insoluble in water, in an oil layer. The microsphere may be targeted to specific tissue by incorporating protein ligands on the surface
Figure 5
Figure 5
Gene delivery using ultrasound and microbubbles. The presence of gas in the gene-filled microbubble allows ultrasound energy to “pop” the bubble. An energetic wave is then created which allows the genetic material to enter surrounding cells
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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