[Newly developed technology for intravenous contrast echocardiography]

Until now we have not been able to employ a contrast enhancer for ultrasonic echocardiography at the everyday clinical level because the agent itself, composed of microbubbles, was too easily dispersed or even destroyed by several factors. However, contrast echocardiography has made a great leap forward with major developments on two fronts; the application of some new intravenous contrast enhancers, and newly developed machine technology permitting second harmonic imaging, intermittent or triggered imaging, pulse inversion harmonic imaging, and so on. New contrast enhancing agents are proving durability enough to permit greatly enhanced imaging for more than several minutes after injection. Recent new echocontrast specific imaging allows real-time visualizing of myocardial perfusion and assessment of myocardial function.