Perfluorobutane ultrasound contrast agent and methods for its manufacture and use
First Claim
1. A pharmaceutically acceptable ultrasound contrast agent which relies on microbubbles for echogenicity, said agent comprising:
- microbubbles formed from a solution of a filmogenic protein and a saccharide wherein said saccharide comprises less than about 40% by weight of said solution wherein said microbubbles have an internal atmosphere enhanced with perfluorobutane gas.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a new ultrasound contrast agent of the type which relies on microbubbles for echogenicity. The new contrast agent comprises microbubbles with an internal atmosphere enhanced with a perfluorobutane gas which is effective for visually detecting myocardial uptake upon echocardiogram following peripheral intravenous injection of said agent into a host. The contrast agent of this invention is unique in that it makes possible the non-invasive visual detection of myocardial uptake. In addition, the contrast agent of this invention makes feasible safe and consistent, non-invasive methods for visually assessing, qualitatively or quantitatively, not only myocardial perfusion, but renal and hepatic perfusion, and for detecting severity of coronary arterial stenosis.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A pharmaceutically acceptable ultrasound contrast agent which relies on microbubbles for echogenicity, said agent comprising:
microbubbles formed from a solution of a filmogenic protein and a saccharide wherein said saccharide comprises less than about 40% by weight of said solution wherein said microbubbles have an internal atmosphere enhanced with perfluorobutane gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A sonicated aqueous albumin-dextrose ultrasound contrast agent solution comprising:
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between about a two-fold and about an eight-fold dilution of aqueous albumin with between about 5% to about 50% by weight aqueous dextrose solution; said albumin between about 2% to about 10% by weight solution; and microbubbles the gaseous content of which contain an amount of perfluorocarbon gas which is effective for visually detecting myocardial perfusion upon echocardiogram following peripheral intravenous injection of said agent into a host. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for myocardial, renal or hepatic opacification comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining an echo contrast agent solution which comprises; (i) forming an aqueous albumin-dextrose solution containing between about a two-fold and about an eight-fold dilution of between about 5% to about 50 by weight dextrose and between about 2% to about 10% by weight human serum albumin, and (ii) sonicating said mixture to form microbubbles the gaseous content of which contain an amount of perfluorocarbon gas which is effective for visually detecting myocardial perfusion by echocardiogram following peripheral intravenous injection of said agent into a host; (b) introducing said echo contrast agent into a host by intravenous injection; and (c) performing an echo contrast study on said host using a suitable Doppler or ultrasound echo apparatus.
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12. A pharmaceutically acceptable contrast agent which relies on microbubbles for echogenicity, said agent comprising:
microbubbles with an interior atmosphere enhanced with perfluorobutane gas.
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13. A pharmaceutically-acceptable ultrasound contrast agent which relies on microbubbles for echogenicity prepared by the method of:
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combining a denaturable protein and a saccharide to form a solution wherein said saccharide comprises less than about 40% by weight of said solution; perfusing said solution with fluorobutane gas; sonicating said solution during said perfusion so that microbubbles are formed with an internal atmosphere comprising said perfluorobutane gas. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification