Method of echographic imaging using frozen gasbubble suspensions
First Claim
1. A method of echographic imaging of organs or blood pool or tissue of a patient comprising:
- (a) defrosting and maintaining at room temperature a frozen suspension of gas bubbles immobilized within a frozen aqueous carrier medium at a temperature between -1°
C. and -196°
C., wherein the carrier medium comprising the gas bubbles is a physiologically acceptable carrier, the immobilized gas bubbles are microbubbles bounded by an evanescent envelope or a tangible membrane to provide a contrast agent for ultrasonic imaging of blood pool and tissue of living beings;
(b) administering to human or animal patient the ultrasonic contrast agent of step (a); and
(c) echographically imaging the organs, blood pool or tissue of said patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are suspensions of gas microbubbles immobilised within a frozen aqueous carrier liquid comprising usual additives and stabilisers, in which the carrier liquid is a physiologically acceptable, the immobilised gas microbubbles are microbubbles bound by an evanescent envelope or a tangible membrane. The suspensions, when in liquid form, are injectable and useful as a contrast agents in ultrasonic imaging of blood pool and tissue of living beings. The gas microbubbles are immobilised within the carrier by freezing a suspension of microbubbles with average sizes below 50 μm, preferably below 10 μm and more preferably between 2 μm and 8 μm, to a temperature between -1° C. and -76° C. and maintaining this temperature for prolonged periods of time. The microbubbles may be stabilised by a surfactant such as a lamellar phospholipid or may comprise a membrane made of synthetic or natural polymer or protein. A method of cold storage of microbubble suspensions as well as their use is also disclosed.
74 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of echographic imaging of organs or blood pool or tissue of a patient comprising:
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(a) defrosting and maintaining at room temperature a frozen suspension of gas bubbles immobilized within a frozen aqueous carrier medium at a temperature between -1°
C. and -196°
C., wherein the carrier medium comprising the gas bubbles is a physiologically acceptable carrier, the immobilized gas bubbles are microbubbles bounded by an evanescent envelope or a tangible membrane to provide a contrast agent for ultrasonic imaging of blood pool and tissue of living beings;(b) administering to human or animal patient the ultrasonic contrast agent of step (a); and (c) echographically imaging the organs, blood pool or tissue of said patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification