3D contrast harmonic echocardiography

In this study the feasibility of 3D harmonic contrast imaging was evaluated in-vitro and in-vivo. This goal is pursued because improved endocardial border delineation with the application of contrast agents should allow for less complex and faster quantification algorithms. A commercially available tissue mimicking flow phantom was used in combination with Optison microbubbles. Backscatter power spectra from a tissue and contrast regions of interest were calculated from recorded radio frequency data. The spectra and the extracted contrast to tissue ratio from these spectra were used to optimize the excitation frequency, the pulse length and the receive filter settings for the transducer. Using the optimized settings, clinical harmonic contrast recordings were made. The results presented in this paper show the feasibility of 3D contrast imaging and improved endocardial border delineation when used in combination with harmonic imaging.