Imaging using cavitation bubbles

An imaging device for mapping a tissue area of a human or an animal, the imaging device comprising:

• an imaging modality comprising:
• at least one ultrasound source;
• and
• a positioning system for the at least one ultrasound source;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• control the at least one ultrasound source, such that ultrasound pulses are irradiated into the tissue area;
• and
• adjust at least one configuration parameter for controlling the at least one ultrasound source, such that a plurality of cavitation bubbles is generated by the irradiated ultrasound pulses in a liquid in the tissue area,
• wherein the positioning system is configured to position a center of a focus area of the irradiated ultrasound pulses within a first subarea of the tissue area, wherein the first subarea is separated from a second subarea of the tissue area by a tissue boundary, a flow of liquid is present in the first subarea, or a combination thereof, and
• wherein the imaging modality is configured to map a spatial distribution, movement of the plurality of cavitation bubbles developing in the tissue area on account of a pressure field caused by the irradiated ultrasound pulses, or the spatial distribution and the movement of the plurality of cavitation bubbles.

In a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions executable by an imaging device to map a tissue area of a human or an animal, the instructions comprising:

• generating, in a liquid, in the tissue area, a plurality of cavitation bubbles, the generating of the plurality of cavitation bubbles comprising irradiating ultrasound pulses into the tissue area using at least one ultrasound source;
• positioning a center of a focus area of the irradiated ultrasound pulses within a first subarea of the tissue area, wherein the first subarea is separated from a second subarea of the tissue area by a tissue boundary, a flow of liquid is present in the first subarea, or a combination thereof;
• and
• mapping a spatial distribution, movement of the plurality of cavitation bubbles developing in the tissue area, or the spatial distribution and the movement of the plurality of cavitation bubbles on account of a pressure field caused by the irradiated ultrasound pulses using an imaging modality.