Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have devised a new ultrasound contrast agent which is safe and can reach the left side of the heart in adequate amounts to determine blood flow to the muscle of the heart. The contrast agent comprises a simple sonicated mixture of a protein the body normally makes (albumin) combined with a naturally occurring sugar (dextrose). This mixture upon sonication contains small bubbles (microbubbles) and can be used following an intravenous injection to study blood flow to the muscle of the heart (myocardium) without the need of invasive catheters or radiation.