Quantitative detection of bubble dynamics by Doppler ultrasound

Bubble cavitation is one of the major mechanisms for ultrasound-induced bioeffects. Characterising the bubble dynamics, expansion and collapse, is of importance in understanding the cavitation phenomenon and estimating the consequent outcome. In this study, Doppler ultrasound method was firstly used to measure the bubble wall velocity. Bubbles were generated in water using a beam of high-intensity focused laser light or inside a vessel phantom using a shock wave generator. Agreement was found between the determination by high-speed photographs and Doppler method. Overall, it is suggested that Doppler ultrasound could be a noninvasive method of quantitatively detecting bubble dynamics in vivo.