摘要 |
The invention relates to a new ultrasound contrast agent of the type which relies on microbubbles for echogenicity. The new contrast agent comprises microbubbles with an internal atmosphere enhanced with a perfluorocarbon gas 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. |