Method of ultrasound imaging
First Claim
1. A method comprising ultrasound imaging, the improvement comprising enhancing the contrast in an ultrasound image by selecting for use as an enhancing agent microbubbles of a gas including perfluoropentane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are agents for enhancing the contrast in an ultrasound image. These agents are extremely small bubbles, or “microbubbles,” comprised of specially selected gases. The microbubbles described herein exhibit long life spans in solution and may be produced at a size small enough to traverse the lungs, thus enabling improved ultrasound imaging of the cardiovascular system and other vital organs. Also disclosed herein is a method for selecting gases from which contrast agents may be produced. The method is based on calculations using inherent physical properties of gases and describes a means to associate the properties of a gas with the time for dissolution of microbubbles comprised of the gas.
106 Citations
1 Claim
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1. A method comprising ultrasound imaging, the improvement comprising enhancing the contrast in an ultrasound image by selecting for use as an enhancing agent microbubbles of a gas including perfluoropentane.
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeGE Healthcare As (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
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Original AssigneeAmersham Health (General Electric Company)
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InventorsQuay, Steven C.
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Primary Examiner(s)Hartley, Michael G.
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Application NumberUS08/896,821Time in Patent Office2,818 DaysField of Search424/9.52, 600/458US Class Current424/9.52CPC Class CodesA61K 49/223 Microbubbles, hollow micros...
