Microparticles and ultrasonic contrast means containing gas bubbles

Claim 2

Contrast medium containing microparticles and gas bubbles for ultrasound diagnostics, characterised in that it contains microparticles of a mixture of a semi-solid or liquid surface-active substance and a non-surface-active solid in a liquid carrier.

Claim 3

Medium according to claim 1, characterised in that it contains microparticles that contain as semi-solid or liquid surface-active substance lecithins, polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, glycerine polyethylene glycol ricinoleate, polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene polymers, saccharose esters, xyloglycerides, unsaturated (C 4 -C 20 )-fatty alcohols, unsaturated (C 4 -C 20 )-fatty acids, mono-, di- and tri-glycerides or fatty acid esters, in the form of microparticles in a quantity of from 0.01 to 10 % by weight.

Claim 4

Medium according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that it contains microparticles that contain as semi-solid or liquid surface-active substance butyl stearate, soya oil saccharose glyceride or polyethylene glycol sorbitan monostearate in a concentration of from 0.01 to 5 % by weight, preferably from 0.04 to 1 % by weight.

Claim 5

Medium according to claim 1, characterised in that it contains microparticles that contain as non-surface-active solid cyclodextrins, monosaccharides,' disaccharides, trisaccharides, polyols or inorganic or organic salts in a concentration of from 5 to 50 % by weight.

Claim 6

Medium according to claims 1 and 4, characterised in that it contains microparticles that contain as non-surface-active solid galactose, lactose or a-cyclodextrin in a concentration of from 5 to 50 % by weight, preferably from 9 to 40 % by weight.

Claim 7

Medium according to claim 1, characterised in that it contains as physiologically tolerable liquid carrier water, physiological electrolyte solution, an aqueous solution of monohydric or polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerine, polyethylene glycol or propylene glycol methyl ester, or an aqueous solution of a mono- or disaccharide.

Claim 8

Medium according to claims 1 and 6, characterised in that it contains as physiologically tolerable liquid carrier water or physiological saline.

Claim 9

Medium according to claim 1, characterised in that it contains microparticles of a mixture of butyl stearate and galactose in water.

Claim 10

Medium according to claim 1, characterised in that it contains microparticles of a mixture of soya oil saccharose glyceride and galactose in water.

Claim 11

Medium according to claim 1, characterised in that it contains microparticles of a mixture of polyethylene glycol sorbitan monostearate and galactose in physiological saline.

Claim 12

Medium according to claim 1, characterised in that it contains microparticles of a mixture of palm oil xylitol and galactose in physiological saline.

Claim 13

A kit for the preparation of an ultrasound contrast medium containing microparticles and gas bubbles, comprising : a) a container having a volume of from 5 to 10 ml which is provided with a closure permitting the removal of the contents under sterile conditions and which is filled with 4 ml of the liquid carrier and b) a second container having a volume of from 5 to 10 ml which is provided with a closure permitting the removal of the contents or the addition of a mixture of substances under sterile conditions and which is filled with microparticles of a mixture of a semi-solid or liquid surface-active substance and a non-surface-active solid having an average particle size of from < 1 to 10 µm, the ratio by weight of surface-active substance to optionally present non-surface-active solid being from 0.01 to 5 100 and the content of microparticles being from 5 to 50 % by weight, preferably from 9 to 40 % by weight.

Claim 14

A kit for the preparation of an ultrasound contrast medium containing microparticles and gas bubbles, comprising : a) a container having a volume of from 5 to 10 ml which is provided with a closure permitting the removal of the contents under sterile conditions and which is filled with 4 ml of the liquid carrier and b) a second container having a volume of from 5 to 10 ml which is provided with a closure permitting the removal of the contents or the addition of a mixture of substances under sterile conditions and which is filled with microparticles of a mixture of a semi-solid or liquid surface-active substance and a non-surface-active solid having an average particle size of from < 1 to 10 µm, the ratio by weight of surface-active substance to optionally present non-surface-active solid being from 0.01 to 5 100 and the content of microparticles being from 5 to 50 % by weight, preferably from 9 to 40 % by weight.

Claim 15

Process for the preparation of a contrast medium containing microparticles and gas bubbles for ultrasound diagnostics, characterised in that microparticles of a mixture of a physiologically tolerable semi-solid or liquid surface-active substance and a physiologically tolerable non-surface-active solid, are combined with a physiologically tolerable carrier liquid and skaken until a homogeneous suspension is formed.

Claim 16

Process for the preparation of a contrast medium containing microparticles and gas bubbles for ultrasound diagnostics, characterised in that microparticles of a mixture of a physiologically tolerable semi-solid or liquid surface-active substance and a physiologically tolerable non-surface-active solid, are combined with a physiologically tolerable carrier liquid and skaken until a homogeneous suspension is formed.