EP0052575B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composition generating microbubbles
Assignee: Bayer Pharma AG
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Filing: 1981-11-17
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Granted: 1986-01-08
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Expires: 2001-11-17
Abstract
Abstract Microbubbles are formed in a liquid, e.g., blood in order to alter the transmission characteristics thereof to electromagnetic and sonic waves transmitted therethrough, by dissolving therein a solid particulate material, preferably as a suspension in a carrier liquid in which the particulate material is at least temporarily stable, the particles of which are substantially free of microbubbles and have a plurality of gas-filled voids communicating with the surface of the particles and providing nuclei for microbubble formation and the ratio of the mass of the particles to the volume of gas in the voids is sufficient to render the liquid in which the particulate material is dissolved supersaturated with respect to the gas in the voids in the area of the liquid surrounding the microbubbles when they are formed.
Inventors
- 👤 Julia S. Rasor
- 👤 Ernest G. Tickner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/22; A61K49/222; A61K49/223; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/06; A61B8/48; A61B8/481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A sterile injectable composition of matter for enhancing the contrast in the ultrasonic diagnosis in unit dosage form and adapted for injection into the blood stream of a living being and generating microbubbles therein, consisting of a particulate solid which is non-toxic, physiologically acceptable material, soluble in blood and substantially free of microbubbles, whose particles are aggregates of smaller particles having gas filled voids therebetween and having an average size in the range of from 1 to 250 micrometers, with the ratio of the mass of the smaller particles to the volume of gas in the voids therebetween effective to render blood in which the composition of matter is dissolved super-saturated with respect to the gas in the area of the blood surrounding the microbubbles when they form therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A sterile injectable composition of matter for enhancing the contrast in the ultrasonic diagnosis in unit dosage form and adapted for injection into the blood stream of a living being and generating microbubbles therein, consisting of a particulate solid which is non-toxic, physiologically acceptable material, soluble in blood and substantially free of microbubbles, whose particles are aggregates of smaller particles having gas filled voids therebetween and having an average size in the range of from 1 to 250 micrometers, with the ratio of the mass of the smaller particles to the volume of gas in the voids therebetween effective to render blood in which the composition of matter is dissolved super-saturated with respect to the gas in the area of the blood surrounding the microbubbles when they form therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition of matter according to claim 1, wherein the particulate material is dextrose, galactose, glucose, maltose or sodium chloride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A composition of matter according to claim 2, wherein the solid particulate material is aggregates of at least about 10 particles whose average size is from about 1 to 50 micrometers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A composition of matter according to claim 3, as a fluid injectable suspension in an amount of a carrier liquid which is non-toxic and physiologically acceptable and in which the particulate material is at least temporarily stable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A composition of matter according to claim 4, wherein the carrier liquid is aqueous and has a viscosity substantially greater than water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
A kit for providing a material for forming microbubbles in the bloodstream of a living being for enhancing the contrast in the ultrasonic diagnosis comprising (a) a first sealed container comprising means for gaining access to the contents thereof and containing a unit dosage amount of a particulate solid according to claim 1, and (b) a second sealed container comprising means for obtaining access to the contents thereof and containing a unit dosage amount of a carrier liquid which is non-toxic and physiologically acceptable and in which the particulate material is at least temporarily stable effective to form a fluid injectable suspension when mixed with the contents of the first container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A kit according to claim 6, wherein the solid particulate material is glucose, galactose, maltose or sodium chloride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
Use of a sterile injectable composition of matter in unit dosage form and adapted for injections into the blood stream of a living being and generating microbubbles therein, consisting of a particulate solid which is non-toxic, physiologically acceptable material, soluble in blood and substantially free of microbubbles, whose particles are aggregates of smaller particles having gas filled voids therebetween and having an average size in the range of from 1 to 250 micrometers, with the ratio of the mass of the smaller particles to the volume of gas in the voids therebetween effective to render blood in which the composition of matter is dissolved supersaturated with respect to the gas in the area of the blood surrounding the microbubbles when they form therein for enhancing the contrast in the ultrasonic diagnosis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
Use of a sterile injectable composition of matter in unit dosage form and adapted for injections into the blood stream of a living being and generating microbubbles therein, consisting of a particulate solid which is non-toxic, physiologically acceptable material, soluble in blood and substantially free of microbubbles, whose particles are aggregates of smaller particles having gas filled voids therebetween and having an average size in the range of from 1 to 250 micrometers, with the ratio of the mass of the smaller particles to the volume of gas in the voids therebetween effective to render blood in which the composition of matter is dissolved supersaturated with respect to the gas in the area of the blood surrounding the microbubbles when they form therein for enhancing the contrast in the ultrasonic diagnosis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
Use of a composition of matter according to claim 8 wherein the particulate material is dextrose, galactose, glucose, maltose or sodium chloride for the purpose mentioned in claim 8.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Use of a composition of matter according to claim 9, wherein the solid particulate material is aggregates of at least about 10 particles whose average size is from about 1 to 50 micrometers for the purpose mentioned in claim 8.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
Use of a composition of matter according to claim 10, as a fluid injectable suspension in an amount of a carrier liquid which is non-toxic and physiologically acceptable and in which the particulate material is at least temporarily stable for the purpose mentioned in claim 8.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Use of a composition of matter according to claim 11, wherein the carrier liquid is aqueous and has a viscosity substantially greater than water for the purpose mentioned in claim 8.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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