AUTHOR=Yusefi Hossein , Helfield Brandon TITLE=Ultrasound Contrast Imaging: Fundamentals and Emerging Technology JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physics VOLUME=10 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physics/articles/10.3389/fphy.2022.791145 DOI=10.3389/fphy.2022.791145 ISSN=2296-424X ABSTRACT=

The development of microbubble contrast agents has broadened the scope of medical ultrasound imaging. Along with dedicated imaging techniques, these agents provide enhanced echoes from the blood pool and have enabled diagnostic ultrasound to assess and quantify microvascular blood flow. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is currently used worldwide with clinical indications in cardiology and radiology, and it continues to evolve and develop through innovative technological advancements. In this review article, we present an overview of the basic microbubble physics and bubble-specific imaging techniques that enable this modality, and follow this with a discussion on new and emerging applications.