Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2025
07:15
An Intact Pericardium Ischemic Rodent Model
Published on: September 2, 2021
2.6K
Acoustic Detection of Retained Perfluoropropane Droplets Within the Developing Myocardial Infarct Zone.
Ping Zeng1, Cheng Chen2, John Lof3
1Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology
|September 1, 2022
Summary
Acoustic activation of perfluoropropane droplets (PDs) enables selective ultrasound enhancement of myocardial scar zones. This method optimizes contrast delineation for developing scar zones (DSZ) after intravenous injection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Ultrasound Contrast Agents
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Perfluoropropane droplets (PDs) can extravasate endothelial barriers.
- Acoustic activation of PDs allows for targeted myocardial enhancement.
- Developing scar zones (DSZ) require precise delineation for assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine optimal acoustic activation parameters for extravascular PDs.
- To achieve ultrasound-enhanced delineation of DSZ.
- To investigate PD kinetics and acoustic behavior in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Ultrafast-frame-rate microscopy to assess bubble formation thresholds.
- In vitro studies evaluating acoustic activation and cavitation thresholds with different pulse sequences (multipulse fundamental non-linear vs. single-pulse harmonic imaging).
- Intravenous injections of PDs in rats and pigs post-ischemia, followed by transthoracic ultrasound imaging.
Main Results:
- A multipulse sequence demonstrated a lower myocardial index threshold for acoustic activation.
- Acoustic activation occurred at a myocardial index ≥0.4 below the inertial cavitation threshold.
- Higher PD presence was detected in the DSZ in rats; pigs showed selective contrast enhancement in the DSZ using fundamental non-linear imaging.
Conclusions:
- Optimal acoustic activation parameters can be identified for PDs.
- Transthoracic ultrasound with specific pulse sequences enables selective enhancement of DSZ.
- This technique holds promise for improved detection and quantification of myocardial scar.
