Based on a theoretical motion equation of encapsulated microbubbles within an ultrasound field, the subharmonic characterizations of microbubbles are optimally designed and analyzed by a computer aided design system. The effects of size, shell elasticity and acoustic pressure on subharmonic response of microbubbles are calculated theoretically to obtain the optimal parameters for nondestructive subharmonic imaging. In addition, microbubbles with different shell elasticity are prepared, and their subharmonic responses are measured in vitro. The results of theoretical calculation and acoustic measurement show that good subharmonic enhancement can be obtained by using the encapsulated microbubbles with the mean size of 3 μm, which were prepared from the surfactant solution with the proper ratio of shell material. It is also shown that the best operating acoustic pressure is 200 to 400 kPa for nondestructive subharmonic imaging based on such kind of microbubbles.
ZONG Yujin WAN Mingxi WANG Suping CHEN Hong ZHANG Guolu
