Contrast agents comprising gas-containing or gas-generating microparticles or microballoons

US5795562A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• NYCOMED IMAGING AS · NO

Inventors

• Jo Klaveness · Oslo, NO
• Keith Redford · Hagan, NO
• Pal Rongved · Oslo, NO
• Jan Solberg · Oslo, NO
• Per Strande · Oslo, NO
• Unni Nordby Wiggen · Rasta, NO

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 17, 1995
• Grant date: Aug 18, 1998
• Expiry date: Jan 17, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61K49/223
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to contrast agents comprising gas-containing or gas-generating polymer microparticles and/or microballoons, in which the polymer is a biodegradable polymer containing units of formula ---(O).sub.m --CO--O--C(R.sup.1 R.sup.2)--O--CO--(O).sub.n --!- . R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent hydrogen or a carbon-attached monovalent organic group, or together form a carbon-attached divalent organic group, and m and n are each independently zero or one. The contrast agents may be used in diagnostic applications such as ultrasound and MR imaging.