From Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
SonoVue® was first launched in October 2001 and is now available in all European countries.
SonoVue is a second generation USCA, designed and optimized with regard to the resistance to pressure. SonoVue is an example of an important family of microbubbles whose membrane consists of phospholipids. SonoVue microbubbles are filled with sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a gas which has a low solubility and diffuses slowly in blood for the gaseous phase of the microbubbles.
In particular, the SonoVue microbubbles, thanks to the high flexibility of their shell, are strongly echogenic in a wide range of frequencies and acoustic pressure and therefore can be used with both destructive and conservative contrast bubble specific imaging methods.

See also Coherent Contrast Imaging.

Sonography [aka: ultrasonography] is a term that encompasses the entire process of performing ultrasound examinations and interpreting the obtained images.
Sonography involves the skilled application of ultrasound technology by trained professionals known as sonographers or ultrasound technologists. These specialists operate the ultrasound equipment, manipulate the transducer, and acquire the necessary pictures for diagnostic imaging purposes. Sonography requires in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology to accurately interpret the ultrasound images and provide valuable information to the treating physician.
Sonography uses equipment that generates high frequency sound waves to produce images from muscles, soft tissues, fluid collections, and vascular structures of the human body. Obstetric sonography is commonly used during pregnancy. Sonography visualizes anatomy, function, and pathology of for example gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, liver, uterus, ovaries, urinary bladder, eye, thyroid, breast, aorta, veins and arteries in the extremities, carotid arteries in the neck, as well as the heart.
A typical medical ultrasound machine, usually a real-time scanner, operates in the frequency range of 2 to 13 megahertz.

See also Musculoskeletal and Joint Ultrasound, Pediatric Ultrasound, Cerebrovascular Ultrasonography and Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound.

(TEE) Transesophageal echocardiography provides a superior view of cardiac anatomy compared with transthoracic echocardiography. TEE is performed by the introduction of a probe attached to a fiberoptic endoscope into the esophagus. Caused by the position close to the heart e.g., clot finding and the view of the mitral valve are improved.

Indications:
The piezoelectric crystal creating the acoustic power is mounted on the gastroscope that must be swallowed by the patient. This endoscopic transducer is miniaturized to approximately the size of a fingernail. Usually the probe is in place for an average of 15 minutes, to numb the surface a topical anesthetic is sprayed into the throat, in addition a conscious sedation is recommended.

See also Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography, Stress Echocardiogram, M-Mode Echocardiography, Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound and Vascular Ultrasound Contrast Agents.

Ultrasound machines, with their various components and types, have revolutionized the field of medical imaging. These devices enable healthcare professionals to visualize internal structures, assess conditions, and guide interventions with real-time imaging capabilities. Today, medical ultrasound systems are complex signal processing machines. Assessing the performance of an ultrasound system requires understanding the relationships between the characteristics of the system, such as the point spread function, temporal resolution, and the quality of images. Image quality aspects include the detail resolution, contrast resolution and penetration. Systems with microbubble scanner modification are particularly suitable for contrast enhanced ultrasound.


In summary, ultrasound machines have diverse performance levels and corresponding price ranges, catering to various medical imaging needs. From low-performance systems with basic imaging capabilities to high-performance and premium systems with advanced features, ultrasound technology continues to advance healthcare imaging capabilities.
See also Ultrasound Physics, Handheld Ultrasound, Environmental Protection, Equipment Preparation.

Conventional, CT and MR imaging technologies are limited in their availability, to depict soft tissue, or to show dynamic activity, like cardiac muscle contractility and blood flow. Easy applicability, real-time sonography and biopsy facilitation are important advantages in veterinarian medicine. Veterinary ultrasound has a very high sensitivity to show the composition of soft tissues, but the low specificity is a disadvantage. High ultrasound system performance includes Doppler techniques, contrast enhanced ultrasound, 3D ultrasound, and tissue harmonic imaging to improve resolution.
Technical and physical requirements of veterinary ultrasound are the same as in human ultrasonography. The higher the sound frequency, the better the possible resolution, but the poorer the tissue penetration. Image quality is depended of the ultrasound equipment. For example, a 10 MHz transducer is excellent for imaging of superficial structures; a 3.5 or 5.0 megahertz transducer allows sufficient penetration to see inner structures like the liver or the heart. In addition, the preparation and performing of the examination is similar to that of humans. The sound beam penetrates soft tissue and fat well, but gas and bone impede the ultrasonic power. Fluid filled organs like the bladder are often used as an acoustic window, and an ultrasound gel is used to conduct the sound beam.