Apparatus for making gas-filled vesicles of optimal size
First Claim
1. An apparatus for making vesicles, comprising:
- a) a container containing an aqueous suspension phase and a gaseous phase substantially separate from said aqueous suspension phase;
b) a device for shaking said container by imparting a reciprocating motion thereto so as to form vesicles, said shaking device comprising (i) an arm having a distal end to which said container is coupled, and (ii) means for pivoting said arm back and forth in first and second mutually perpendicular directions so as to reciprocate said container along an arcuate path, wherein said means for pivoting said arm comprises means for pivoting said arm at a frequency greater than approximately 2800 RPM and no greater than approximately 10,000 RPM.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for making vesicles suitable for use as contrast agents in which a container containing an aqueous suspension phase and a separate gas phase is shaken using reciprocating motion. The reciprocating motion is produced by a shaker arm that moves the container in two, substantially perpendicular directions, with the motion in the first direction being along an arcuate path. The overall path of the motion occurs in a figure-8 eight pattern. The frequency of shaking is at least approximately 2800 RPM, the length of the shaker arm is at least approximately 6 cm, and the angle through which the shaker arm rotates in the first direction is at least approximately 3°. The total length of travel around the figure-8 pattern is at least 0.7 cm.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. An apparatus for making vesicles, comprising:
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a) a container containing an aqueous suspension phase and a gaseous phase substantially separate from said aqueous suspension phase; b) a device for shaking said container by imparting a reciprocating motion thereto so as to form vesicles, said shaking device comprising (i) an arm having a distal end to which said container is coupled, and (ii) means for pivoting said arm back and forth in first and second mutually perpendicular directions so as to reciprocate said container along an arcuate path, wherein said means for pivoting said arm comprises means for pivoting said arm at a frequency greater than approximately 2800 RPM and no greater than approximately 10,000 RPM. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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15. An apparatus for making vesicles, comprising:
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a) a container containing an aqueous suspension phase and a gaseous phase substantially separate from said aqueous suspension phase; b) a shaking device for shaking said container so as to form vesicles therein, said shaking device having (i) an arm having a distal end and a length of at least approximately 6 cm, said arm being mounted so as to pivot in a first direction through a first angle of at least approximately 6°
, (ii) means for pivoting said arm back and forth in said first direction through said first angle so that said distal end of said arm reciprocates at an amplitude of at least 0.8 cm along an arcuate path, and (iii) means for coupling said container to said arm. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 48)
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Specification