(Perfluorocarbon exposed sonicated dextrose albumin) PESDA are sonicated dextrose albumin microbubbles containing decafluorobutane gas. PESDA is a sonicated self made contrast agent and not a commercial product.
PESDA microbubbles can be used as a blood pool contrast agent in echocardiography to improve the detection of myocardial perfusion abnormalities.

Ultrasound is the ideal tool to examine children of all ages. It is fast, painless, uses no ionizing radiation, and does not require a baby to remain still for long periods. Real-time modes show movement of internal tissues and organs. Advanced ultrasound imaging techniques such as color Doppler, 4D ultrasound, harmonic imaging, and higher resolution, as well as the application of ultrasound contrast agents broaden the potential of ultrasound.
Pediatric [paediatric, Brit.] ultrasound can be used in all body regions and reduce the number of more invasive or radiating examinations that often additionally need sedation or intravenous iodinated contrast agents.

See also Fetal Ultrasound, Reflux Sonography, Ultrasound Safety, Abdominal Ultrasound and Pregnancy Ultrasound.

Power modulation is a non-linear method, based on a multi-pulse technique where the acoustic amplitude (and hence power) of the transmitted pulses is changed. Full and half amplitudes pulses are used to induce changes in the response of the contrast agent. The received echoes from the emitted half amplitude pulse are adjusted with the full amplitude pulse and this pairs of pulses are subtracted. Power modulation is used to separate contrast agent echoes at low mechanical index, allowing real-time perfusion imaging.
Power modulation can be used with a low frequency wide band transducer to increase the depth and transmit the sound beam homogenous allowing ultraharmonic imaging.

SONUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is engaged in the research and development of ultrasound contrast agents (USCA) and drug delivery systems for use in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, cancer and other conditions.
Sonus Pharmaceuticals and OncoGenex Technologies Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical development company, announced 2008 the signing of a definitive agreement to merge the two companies. The combined company will operate as OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Ultrasound Contrast Agents:

Sonazoid™ is an ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) consisting of stabilized gas microbubbles in an aqueous suspension. Sonazoid™ has overcome the stability problems of first generation USCA and can produce myocardial perfusion images. Myocardial imaging using ultrasound contrast agents provides diagnosis of chronic heart disease and assessment of the coronary arteries and of the coronary blood flow reserve.
Sonazoid™ is taken up by healthy Kupffer cells in the liver and spleen, but break down in high amplitude ultrasound imaging modes such as color Doppler imaging. The bubble rupture produces a transient pressure wave, which results in a characteristic mosaic color pattern from tissues containing the microbubbles (induced acoustic emission). Liver tumors without Kupffer cells will not display the mosaic pattern and can therefore be identified easily.