Acoustic quantification, a new ultrasound technique, provides a more direct assessment of the health of the myocardium than conventional echocardiography. Through software enhancements, acoustic quantification can characterize the myocardium as viable or nonviable, automatically track the endocardium throughout the cardiac cycle, and show myocardial perfusion defects when used with contrast enhancement. Thus, this technique shows promise in linking perfusion, viability, and global function in adults and perhaps in children.