From Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
SonoVue® was first launched in October 2001 and is now available in all European countries.
SonoVue is a second generation USCA, designed and optimized with regard to the resistance to pressure. SonoVue is an example of an important family of microbubbles whose membrane consists of phospholipids. SonoVue microbubbles are filled with sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a gas which has a low solubility and diffuses slowly in blood for the gaseous phase of the microbubbles.
In particular, the SonoVue microbubbles, thanks to the high flexibility of their shell, are strongly echogenic in a wide range of frequencies and acoustic pressure and therefore can be used with both destructive and conservative contrast bubble specific imaging methods.

See also Coherent Contrast Imaging.

SONUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is engaged in the research and development of ultrasound contrast agents (USCA) and drug delivery systems for use in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, cancer and other conditions.
Sonus Pharmaceuticals and OncoGenex Technologies Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical development company, announced 2008 the signing of a definitive agreement to merge the two companies. The combined company will operate as OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Ultrasound Contrast Agents:

Sound and ultrasound waves consist of a mechanical disturbance of a medium such as air. The disturbance passes through the medium at a fixed speed causing vibration. The rate at which the particles vibrate is the frequency, measured in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz).
The pressure of sound is reported on a logarithmic scale called sound-pressure level, expressed in decibel (dB) referenced to the weakest audible 1 000 Hz sound pressure of 2*10^-5 Pascal (20 mP). Sound level meters contain filters that simulate the ear's frequency response. The most commonly used filter provides what is called 'A' weighting, with the letter 'A' appended to the dB units, i.e. dBA.
Sound becomes inaudible to the human ear above about 20 kHz and is then known as ultrasound. Diagnostic imaging uses much higher frequencies, in the order of MHz.
See also Spatial Peak Intensity.

Sound frequencies:

(short for ultrasound beam) The sound beam is the confined, directional beam of ultrasound traveling as a longitudinal wave from the transducer face into the propagation medium. The near field and the far field are two separate regions along the beam. Sound beams are either steered mechanically or electrically. Both rapidly sweep sound waves through tissues.

See also Sheer Wave, Beam Vessel Angle, Beam Steering, and Huygens Principle.

Sound pressure is reported on a logarithmic scale called sound-pressure level, expressed in decibel (dB) referenced to the weakest audible 1 000 Hz sound pressure of 2*10-5 Pascal (20 mP). Sound level meters contain filters that simulate the ear's frequency response. The most commonly used filter provides what is called 'A' weighting, with the letter 'A' appended to the dB units, i.e. dBA.