On the usefulness of the mechanical index displayed on clinical ultrasound scanners for predicting contrast microbubble destruction.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanical index (MI) displayed on clinical ultrasound scanners as a predictor of exposure conditions related to the destruction of sonographic microbubble contrast agents.

Methods: Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) and Optison (GE Healthcare, Princeton, NJ) microbubbles were injected into a tissue-mimicking flow phantom. Gray scale imaging was performed with 4 different scanners and 3 different transducers (3.