Microbubble precursors and apparatus for their production and use
US4657756A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 1983 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B8/481
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Microbubbles are formed in a liquid, e.g., blood in order to alter the transmission characteristics thereof to electromagnetic and sonic waves transmitted therethrough, by dissolving therein a solid particulate material, preferably as a suspension in a carrier liquid in which the particulate material is at least temporarily stable, the particles of which are substantially free of microbubbles and have a plurality of gas-filled voids communicating with the surface of the particles and providing nuclei for microbubble formation and the ratio of the mass of the particles to the volume of gas in the voids is sufficient to render the liquid in which the particulate material is dissolved supersaturated with respect to the gas in the voids in the area of the liquid surrounding the microbubbles when they are formed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.