Abstract: This invention relates to a new ultrasound contrast agent of the type which relies on microbubbles for echogenicity. The improvement comprises enhancing the internal atmosphere of the microbubbles with an amount of perfluoropropane which is effective for visually detecting myocardial uptake upon echocardiogram following peripheral intravenous injection of said agent into a host. The contrast agent of this invention is unique in that it makes possible the non-invasive visual detection of myocardial uptake. In addition, the contrast agent of this invention makes feasible safe and consistent, non-invasive methods for visually assessing, qualitatively or quantitatively, not only myocardial perfusion, but renal and hepatic perfusion, and for detecting severity of coronary arterial stenosis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging technique is disclosed which uses microbubbles as echo contrast agents. In general the method employs maitenance of an ultrasound signal while the contrast agent is intravenously injected into a mammal. Once all the contrast agent has been injected and transmission of the signal is suspended for a period of time sufficient for the microbubbles perfuse the organ of interest. Transmission of the ultrasound signal is then resumed and peak contrast images are obtained which rival more complicated imaging procedures such as nuclear resonance imaging.