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Systems, methods, and computer readable media for high frequency contrast imaging and image-guided therapeutics

  • US 9,532,769 B2
  • Filed: 09/07/2010
  • Issued: 01/03/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for high-frequency contrast imaging and image-guided therapeutics, the method comprising:

  • generating and directing ultrasound energy with a transmitter of a first frequency bandwidth toward the volume to be imaged, the volume containing a carrier having non-linear acoustical properties, wherein the ultrasound energy of the first frequency bandwidth causes the carrier to generate ultrasound energy of a second frequency bandwidth that is different from the first frequency bandwidth, wherein the transmitter comprises a first physical component of a multi-frequency ultrasound transducer that is structured to transmit the ultrasound energy of the first frequency bandwidth and wherein the first frequency bandwidth has a center frequency in a range between 0.8 MHz and 10 MHz;

    detecting, from the volume to be imaged, the ultrasound energy with a receiver of a second frequency bandwidth, wherein the receiver comprises a second physical component of the multi-frequency ultrasound transducer structured to detect ultrasound energy at frequencies greater than 20 MHz wherein the first frequency bandwidth generated by the transmitter is lower than the second frequency bandwidth detected by the receiver and wherein the first and second physical components of the multi-frequency transducer are structured so that the −

    12 dB bandwidths of the transmitter and the receiver do not overlap with each other; and

    using the detected ultrasound energy of the second frequency bandwidth to generate an image of the volume to be imaged,wherein components of the second frequency bandwidth that are detected and used to generate the image are greater than 20 MHz.

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