(CEUS) Contrast agents increase the reflection of ultrasonic energy, improve the signal to noise ratio and caused by that the detection of abnormal microvascular and macrovascular disorders. Contrast enhanced ultrasound is used in abdominal ultrasound (liver sonography) as well as in cerebrovascular examinations e.g., for an accurate grading of carotid stenosis. The used contrast agents are safe and well tolerated.

The quality of the enhancement depends on:
The additional use of ultrasound contrast agents (USCAs) may overcome typical limitations like poor contrast of B-mode imaging or limited sensitivity of Doppler techniques. The development of new ultrasound applications (e.g., blood flow imaging, perfusion quantification) depends also from the development of pulse sequences for bubble specific imaging. In addition, contrast enhanced ultrasound improves the monitoring of ultrasound guided interventions like RF thermal ablation.

See also Contrast Enhanced Doppler Imaging, Contrast Harmonic Imaging, Contrast Imaging Techniques and Contrast Pulse Sequencing.

From GE Healthcare.;
'The System of Choice for General Imaging
Imagine a leading-edge ultrasound system so versatile that it can meet the demands of virtually any clinical setting. With the LOGIQ® 9, you'll have a high-performance system capable of multi-dimensional imaging for a full range of clinical applications - from abdominal to breast to vascular imaging. And an ergonomic design that improves scanning comfort and clinical work flow. Now, imagine what LOGIQ® 9 could do for you and your patients.'

From GE Healthcare.;
'The System of Choice for Shared Service.
The LOGIQ® 7 system provides a full range of clinical applications including abdominal, small parts, surgery, vascular and cardiac imaging and the power of GE's patented TruScan architecture. Just imagine an ultrasound system so versatile and reliable that it can meet the demands of virtually any clinical setting. And an ergonomic design that improves scanning comfort and clinical work flow.'

In 3D ultrasound (US) several 2D images are acquired by moving the probe across the body surface or rotating inserted probes. 3D-mode uses the same basic concept of a 2D ultrasound but rather than take the image from a single angle, the sonographer takes a volume image. The volume image that is displayed on the screen is a software rendering of all of the detected soft-tissue combined by specialized computer software to form three-dimensional images.
The 3D volume rendering technique (VR) does not rely on segmentation (segmentation techniques are difficult to apply to ultrasound pictures) and makes it possible to obtain clear 3D ultrasound images for clinical diagnosis. A 3D ultrasound produces a still image. Diagnostic US systems with 3D display functions and linear array probes are mainly used for obstetric and abdominal applications. The combination of contrast agents, harmonic imaging and power Doppler greatly improves 3D US reconstructions.

3D imaging shows a better look at the organ being examined and is used for:

Fusion 3D imaging methods for generating compound images from two sets of ultrasound images (B-mode and Doppler images) enable the observation of the structural relationships between lesions and their associated blood vessels in three dimensions (maximum intensity projection).

The earliest introduction of vascular ultrasound contrast agents (USCA) was by Gramiak and Shah in 1968, when they injected agitated saline into the ascending aorta and cardiac chambers during echocardiographic to opacify the left heart chamber. Strong echoes were produced within the heart, due to the acoustic mismatch between free air microbubbles in the saline and the surrounding blood.