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Ultraschallkontrastmittel — physikalische Grundlagen

Ultrasound contrast agents: physical basics

  • Ultraschallkontrastmittel
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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 August 2005

Zusammenfassung

Das Wirkungsprinzip von Ultraschallkontrastmitteln (US-KM, US Ultraschall) beruht auf den speziellen physikalischen und akustischen Eigenschaften der gasgefüllten Mikrobläschen. Abhängig vom Druck der eingestrahlten US-Welle treten neben einer Erhöhung der Rückstreuung, die wesentlich zur Verbesserung der Bildqualität beiträgt, nichtlineare Effekte auf, die von der Erzeugung harmonischer Frequenzanteile bis hin zur Zerstörung der Bläschen durch die Schallwelle reichen. Speziell die nichtlinearen Effekte bilden die Grundlage für neu entwickelte kontrastmittelspezifische Bildgebungstechniken wie harmonic oder intermittent imaging.

Dieser Artikel gibt eine Übersicht über die physikalischen Eigenschaften der Mikrobläschen, ihr akustisches Verhalten im Ultraschallfeld sowie die Ausnutzung der auftretenden Effekte für die Bildgebung. Auf neue Entwicklungen in Richtung gewebespezifischer Kontrastmittel und sich daraus ergebende therapeutische Anwendungsmöglichkeiten wird ebenso wie auf die potenziellen Gefahren durch kontrastmittelinduzierte Bioeffekte und daraus resultierenden Richtlinien für die klinische Anwendung der Kontrastmittel (KM) eingegangen.

Abstract

The concept of ultrasound contrast agents (UCA) is based on the inherent physical and acoustical properties of gas-filled microbubbles within an ultrasonic (US) field. Depending on the magnitude of the incident US wave different scattering behavior occurs. While it is linear for low acoustic pressures, increasing it leads to the occurrence of nonlinear effects, such as emission of harmonics. High pressure results in destruction of the bubbles producing a highly nonlinear echo signal. Using these specific acoustic signatures opens new perspectives for the development of bubble-specific imaging techniques such as harmonic or intermittent imaging.

This review deals with the physical properties of the gas-filled microbubbles, their behavior within an ultrasonic field, and the use of the bubbles’ acoustic signatures for contrast-specific imaging. Novel applications such as tissue-specific microbubbles, targeted imaging, and therapeutic applications using the bubbles as vehicles for drug or gene delivery are discussed as well as acoustically induced bioeffects and considerations for the safe use of UCA from an acoustic standpoint.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zentrum für Biomedizinische Technik und Physik, Medizinische Universität Wien

    C. Kollmann & M. Putzer

  2. Zentrum für Biomedizinische Technik und Physik, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, A-1090 , Wien, Österreich

    C. Kollmann

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  1. C. Kollmann
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  2. M. Putzer
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Correspondence to C. Kollmann.

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Ein Erratum zu diesem Beitrag können Sie unter http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00117-005-1261-7 finden.

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Kollmann, C., Putzer, M. Ultraschallkontrastmittel — physikalische Grundlagen. Radiologe 45, 503–512 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00117-005-1188-z

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