Mixed gas microbubble compositions
First Claim
1. An injectable ultrasound contrast agent comprising:
- (a) a suspension of gas filled microbubbles or microballoons in a physiologically acceptable aqueous carrier comprising a membrane comprising a surfactant and a protein or glycoprotein and additives wherein;
(b) the gas is a gas mixture of at least two biocompatible gases A and B;
(c) gas B is present in an amount of between 50%-99% by volume;
(d) gas B has a water solubility of not more than about 0.5 mM at 25°
C. and one atmosphere and an average molecular weight at least about 4 times that of gas A; and
, (e) the balance of the mixture is gas A.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microbubble preparation formed of a plurality of microbubbles comprising a first gas and a second gas surrounded by a membrane such as a surfactant, wherein the first gas and the second gas are present in a molar ratio of from about 1:100 to about 1000:1, and wherein the first gas has a vapor pressure of at least about (760-x) mm Hg at 37 C., where x is the vapor pressure of the second gas at 37 C., and wherein the vapor pressure of each of the first and second gases is greater than about 75 mm Hg at 37 C.; also disclosed are methods for preparing microbubble compositions, including compositions that rapidly shrink from a first average diameter to a second average diameter less than about 75% of the first average diameter and are stabilized at the second average diameter; kits for preparing microbubbles; and methods for using such microbubbles as ultrasound contrast agents
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An injectable ultrasound contrast agent comprising:
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(a) a suspension of gas filled microbubbles or microballoons in a physiologically acceptable aqueous carrier comprising a membrane comprising a surfactant and a protein or glycoprotein and additives wherein;
(b) the gas is a gas mixture of at least two biocompatible gases A and B;
(c) gas B is present in an amount of between 50%-99% by volume;
(d) gas B has a water solubility of not more than about 0.5 mM at 25°
C. and one atmosphere and an average molecular weight at least about 4 times that of gas A; and
,(e) the balance of the mixture is gas A. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19)
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10. An injectable ultrasound contrast agent comprising:
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(a) a suspension of gas filled microbubbles or microballoons in a physiologically acceptable aqueous carrier comprising a surfactant comprised of at least one phospholipid and further comprising a protein or glycoprotein wherein;
(b) the gas is a gas mixture of at least two biocompatible gases A and B;
(c) gas B is present in an amount of between 0.5-50% by volume;
(d) gas B has a water solubility of not more than about 0.5 mM at 25°
C. and one atmosphere and an average molecular weight at least about 4 times that of gas A; and
,(e) the balance of the mixture is gas A. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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Specification