Power Doppler myocardial contrast echocardiography using an improved multiple frame triggered Harmonic Angio technique

Although B-mode harmonic, intermittent-triggered myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) is a well-established technique, a variety of MCE techniques have been introduced recently to improve myocardial opacification. One such technique uses a power Doppler method in conjunction with multiple frame triggering (MFT), but has been limited by nonuniform microbubble destruction and blooming as well as motion artifacts. Utilizing two different contrast agents, Definity and Optison, we tested the feasibility of an improved version of Harmonic Angio MFT that utilizes a lower transmit frequency, reduced packet size, and more stringent wall filter in normal volunteers and in patients with known perfusion defects. The results showed that Harmonic Angio MFT produced fill frames with readily visible opacification and destruction frames with little visible opacification. The patterns of opacification also correlated with the expected perfusion patterns in both groups of subjects. Thus, Harmonic Angio MFT appears to be a promising new MCE technique.