Research group

Prof. Hans Knutsson	Project manager, Supervisor	IMT, LiU
Nina Erikssson Bylund, MSc	Research coordinator, PhD student	IMT, LiU
Prof. Per Ask	Supervisor	IMT, LiU
Birgitta Janerot-Sjöberg, MD, PhD	Asst. Supervisor	IMV, LiU
Mats Andersson, PhD	Asst. Supervisor	IMT, LiU
Magnus Borga, PhD	Asst. Supervisor	IMT, LiU
Tomas Jansson, PhD	Asst. Supervisor	Elmät, LTH
Marcus Ressner, MSc	PhD student	IMT, LiU
Andreas Wrangsjö, MSc	PhD student	IMT, LiU

Introduction

A number of diseases results in reduction of perfusion through vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver. Information about the blood flow in small vessels can in these cases contribute significantly to clinical diagnosis. Contrast echocardiography is a rapidly growing technique for non-invasive intracardial and myocardial perfusion imaging. The contrast agent can be used to show blood flow in both large and small vessels, i.e. it can be used to both enhance and facilitate flow as well as perfusion measurements.
 
However, as of today further investigations and development of the contrast agent's acoustic behaviour, imaging modalities and image processing techniques are necessary to bring perfusion analysis by contrast echocardiography into clinical routine. Presently no method for non-invasive bedside evaluation of the myocardial perfusion has been proved adequate in a clinical setting.
 
The overall objective of this project is therefore to develop better diagnostic procedures for visualization and quantification of myocardial blood flow. This will utilize new contrast agents in combination with improved acquisition strategies and advanced image analysis methods.