Predicting Backscatter Characteristics from Micron- and Submicron-Scale Ultrasound Contrast Agents Using a Size-Integration Technique

Hairong Zheng, Alexander Barker, and Robin Shandas

ABSTRACT In this paper, a computationally, inexpensive, size-integration method based on a modified Rayleigh-Plesset model is developed to predict backscatter spectra from groups of bubbles with various size distributions, incident acoustic amplitudes, and driving frequencies. The method was validated using experimentally measured spectra from contrast bubbles of various sizes: Optison®, Levovist®, ST68® microbubbles, and submicron bubbles. This method provides a computationally inexpensive means of examining backscatter spectrum from multiple bubbles, especially in predicting occurrence and relative amplitude of subharmonics and second harmonics.

© 2006, by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. All rights reserved.

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