Nonspherical vibrations of microbubbles in contact with a wall: a pilot study at low mechanical index

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2008 Apr;34(4):685-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2007.10.001. Epub 2008 Feb 20.

Abstract

Radially oscillating microbubbles can deform when in contact with a wall. These nonspherical shapes have a preferential orientation perpendicular to the wall. Conventional microscope setups for microbubble studies have their optical axis perpendicular to the wall (top view); consequently they have a limited view of the deformation of the bubble. We developed a method to image the bubble in a side view by integrating a mirror in the microscope setup. The image was recorded at 14.5 million frames per second by a high-speed camera. When insonified by a 1-MHz, 140-kPa ultrasound pulse, a 9-microm diameter coated bubble appeared spherical in the top view, but strongly nonspherical in the side view. Its shape was alternatively oblate and prolate, with maximum second order spherical harmonic amplitude equal to the radius.

MeSH terms

  • Contrast Media*
  • Fluorocarbons
  • Humans
  • Microbubbles*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Ultrasonography / methods*
  • Vibration

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Fluorocarbons
  • perflutren