Microencapsulated fluorinated gases for use as imaging agents
US5611344A · kind A · utility
83Cited by
13References
16Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61K49/223
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
It has been discovered that the incorporation of fluorinated gases, especially a perfluorocarbon such as octafluoropropane, into synthetic polymeric microparticles, significantly enhances echogenicity as compared with microparticles having air incorporated therein. The microencapsulated perfluorocarbon is manufactured with a diameter suitable for the targeted tissue to be imaged, for example, for intravenous or oral administration. In one embodiment, bioadhesive microparticles are formed for enhanced imaging of mucosal surfaces.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.