
348 VisualSonics Vevo 2100 Imaging System Operator Manual Rev 1.1
Chapter 47: Acquiring Contrast Mode images
Contrast agent technology
Contrast Mode imaging requires the use of contrast agents. Contrast agents are
gas-filled microbubbles that produce a strong echogenic signal when excited with
an ultrasound pulse.
VisualSonics provides a family of contrast agent kits for targeted and non-
targeted applications.
Non-targeted contrast agents
Non-targeted contrast agents are injected into the vascular system either via a
small bolus or a continuous infusion using a syringe pump.
The contrast agents are free flowing in the vascular system for a period of time
until they are either destroyed with a high-powered ultrasound sequence or are
cleared through the system via the kidney or the liver.
Targeted contrast agents
Targeted contrast agents are microbubbles similar to those used in untargeted
applications, but are conjugated with a ligand that will bind to specific molecular
markers.
A targeted contrast agent flows freely through the vascular system until it finds
the specific receptor. At this time it binds to the molecular marker on the
endothelial surface of the vessel and will no longer flow freely.
An ultrasound image of a region with bound contrast agents displays the strong
echogenic signal provided by the contrast agent.
Displaying contrast agents as an overlay
Before you begin
Acquire your contrast data:
Typical Contrast Mode image acquisition session (page 338)
Typical Contrast 3D-Mode image acquisition session (page 341)
f To display the contrast data as an overlay using the control panel:
1. In a cine loop acquired by using the
Image Sequence
process, drag the right
side range control bracket to the end of the cine loop.
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