Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US6989141B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61K49/223
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Gas or air filled microbubble suspensions in aqueous phases usable as imaging contrast agents in ultrasonic echography. They contain laminarized surfactants and, optionally, hydrophilic stabilizers. The laminarized surfactants can be in the form of liposomes. The suspensions are obtained by exposing the laminarized surfactants to air or a gas before or after admixing with an aqueous phase. One can impart outstanding resistance against collapse under pressure to these gas-filled microbubbles used as contrast agents in ultrasonic echography by using as fillers gases whose solubility in water, expressed in liter of gas by liter of water under standard conditions, divided by the square root of the molecular weight does not exceed 0.003.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.