From Bayer Schering Pharma AG:
Echovist-200® was an effectively one-pass-only contrast medium for contrast sonography and Doppler-echocardiographic examinations for the detection, exclusion or follow-up of pathological states leading to hemodynamic changes. Because of the short intravascular life of the microparticles and microbubbles, transit through the pulmonary circulation is unusual. In cardiac evaluations Echovist-200® has been replaced by newer ultrasound contrast agents (USCA), therefore the manufacturing was discontinued.
Another range of echo contrast application is the female genital tract, in particular for the demonstration or exclusion of acquired or congenital changes of the uterine cavity and for the visualization of the Fallopian tubes and investigation of their patency.
1 g Echovist-200 granules contain 1 g D-galactose microparticles. 1 ml aqueous solution for production of the suspension contains 200 mg D-galactose.
Brand names in other countries: Ecovist.

Ultrasound enhancement is the increase in reflection amplitude from objects that lie behind a weakly attenuating structure. Contrast agent particles enhance the reflectivity of blood.
The enhancement artifact may occur in structures below a cyst.

From Biosound Esaote, Inc.;
'The new, more powerful Megas ES is a technologically advanced ultrasound system in a highly portable package. Offering options such as CnTI™ software to support contrast agents and DICOM connectivity and storage for film-less, tape-less diagnostic services, Megas ES is the practical alternative for today's demanding diagnostic needs.'

Specifications for this system will be available soon.

The gas in microbubbles is highly compressible and, when subjected to the alternating compression and refraction pressures that constitute an ultrasound pulse, microbubbles oscillate at their natural frequency at which they resonate most strongly. This is determined by their size but is also influenced by the composition of the filling gas.
Air, sulfur hexafluoride, nitrogen, and perfluorochemicals are used as filling gases. Most newer ultrasound contrast agents use perfluorochemicals because of their low solubility in blood and high vapor pressure. By substituting different types of perfluorocarbon gases for air, the stability and plasma longevity of the agents have been markedly improved, usually lasting more than five minutes.

The first generation ultrasound contrast agents (UCA/USCA) do not pass the pulmonary vascular bed, and are therefore limited to the venous system and the right heart cavities after intravenous injection.