Patent US20030163188A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5305757A
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Gas filled liposomes and their use as ultrasonic contrast agents
Assignee: Bristol Myers Squibb Pharma Co
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Filing: 1993-02-12
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Granted: 1994-04-26
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Expires: 2013-02-12
Abstract
Abstract Contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging comprising gas filled liposomes prepared using vacuum drying gas instillation methods, and gas filled liposomes substantially devoid of liquid in the interior thereof, are described. Methods of and apparatus for preparing such liposomes and methods for employing such liposomes in ultrasonic imaging applications are also disclosed. Also described are diagnostic kits for ultrasonic imaging which include the subject contrast agents.
Inventors
- 👤 Evan C. Unger
- 👤 Guanli Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/22; A61K49/222; A61K49/227; A61K41/00; A61K41/0028; A61K41/0052; A61K49/06; A61K49/18; A61K49/1806; A61K49/1815; A61K49/223; A61K9/00; A61K9/10; A61K9/127; A61K9/1277; A61K9/1278; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/829; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for preparing contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging comprising the following steps: (i) placing liposomes under negative pressure; (ii) incubating said liposomes under said negative pressure for a time sufficient to remove substantially all liquid from said liposomes; and (iii) instilling gas into said liposomes until ambient pressures are achieved.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for preparing contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging comprising the following steps: (i) placing liposomes under negative pressure; (ii) incubating said liposomes under said negative pressure for a time sufficient to remove substantially all liquid from said liposomes; and (iii) instilling gas into said liposomes until ambient pressures are achieved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of claim 1 further comprising allowing said liposomes to cool prior to and during step (i) to a temperature between about -10° C. and about -20° C., allowing said liposomes to warm during step (ii) to a temperature between about 10° C. and about 20° C., and allowing said liposomes to warm during step (iii) to ambient temperatures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said negative pressure is between about 700 mm Hg and about 760 mm Hg and is applied for about 24 to about 72 hours.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 1 where said gas is instilled into said liposomes over a period of about 4 to about 8 hours.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of claim 1 where said gas is selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, argon, xenon, neon, and helium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
A method of claim 5 where said gas is nitrogen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 1 further comprising, after step (iii), extruding said liposomes through at least one filter of a selected pore size.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
A contrast agent produced by the method of claim 1.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for preparing contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging comprising the following steps: (i) allowing liposomes to cool to a temperature between about -10° C. and about -20° C.; (ii) placing said liposomes under a negative pressure of between about 700 mm Hg to about 760 mm Hg; (iii) incubating said liposomes under said negative pressure for about 24 to about 72 hours to remove substantially all liquid from said liposomes; while allowing said liposomes to warm to a temperature between about 10° C. and about 20° C.; and (iv) instilling gas into said liposomes over a period of about 4 to about 8 hours until ambient pressures are achieved, while allowing said liposomes to warm to ambient temperature.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for preparing contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging comprising the following steps: (i) allowing liposomes to cool to a temperature between about -10° C. and about -20° C.; (ii) placing said liposomes under a negative pressure of between about 700 mm Hg to about 760 mm Hg; (iii) incubating said liposomes under said negative pressure for about 24 to about 72 hours to remove substantially all liquid from said liposomes; while allowing said liposomes to warm to a temperature between about 10° C. and about 20° C.; and (iv) instilling gas into said liposomes over a period of about 4 to about 8 hours until ambient pressures are achieved, while allowing said liposomes to warm to ambient temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of claim 9 where said gas is selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, argon, xenon, neon, and helium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
A method of claim 10 where said gas is nitrogen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 9 further comprising, after step (iv), extruding said liposomes through at least one filter of a selected pore size.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
A contrast agent produced by the method of claim 9.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of providing an image of an internal bodily region of a patient comprising: (a) administering to the patient a contrast agent comprising gas filled liposomes prepared by a vacuum drying gas instillation method; and (b) scanning the patient using ultrasonic imaging to obtain visible images of the region.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of providing an image of an internal bodily region of a patient comprising: (a) administering to the patient a contrast agent comprising gas filled liposomes prepared by a vacuum drying gas instillation method; and (b) scanning the patient using ultrasonic imaging to obtain visible images of the region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the patient is scanned in the area of the patient's left heart.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of providing an image of an internal bodily region of a patient comprising: (a) administering to the patient a contrast agent comprising gas filled liposomes substantially devoid of liquid in the interior thereof; and (b) scanning the patient using ultrasonic imaging to obtain visible images of the region.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of providing an image of an internal bodily region of a patient comprising: (a) administering to the patient a contrast agent comprising gas filled liposomes substantially devoid of liquid in the interior thereof; and (b) scanning the patient using ultrasonic imaging to obtain visible images of the region.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the patient is scanned in the area of the patient's left heart.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for diagnosing the presence of diseased tissue in a patient comprising: (i) administering to the patient a contrast agent comprising gas filled liposomes prepared by a vacuum drying gas instillation method; and (ii) scanning the patient using ultrasonic imaging to obtain visible images of any diseased tissue in the patient.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for diagnosing the presence of diseased tissue in a patient comprising: (i) administering to the patient a contrast agent comprising gas filled liposomes prepared by a vacuum drying gas instillation method; and (ii) scanning the patient using ultrasonic imaging to obtain visible images of any diseased tissue in the patient.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the patient is scanned in the area of the patient's left heart.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for diagnosing the presence of diseased tissue in a patient comprising: (i) administering to the patient a contrast agent comprising gas filled liposomes substantially devoid of liquid in the interior thereof; and (ii) scanning the patient using ultrasonic imaging to obtain visible images of any diseased tissue in the patient.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for diagnosing the presence of diseased tissue in a patient comprising: (i) administering to the patient a contrast agent comprising gas filled liposomes substantially devoid of liquid in the interior thereof; and (ii) scanning the patient using ultrasonic imaging to obtain visible images of any diseased tissue in the patient.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the patient is scanned in the area of the patient's left heart.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for preparing gas filled liposomes comprising the following steps: (i) placing liposomes under negative pressure; (ii) incubating said liposomes under said negative pressure for a time sufficient to remove substantially all liquid from said liposomes; and (iii) instilling gas into said liposomes until ambient pressures are achieved.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for preparing gas filled liposomes comprising the following steps: (i) placing liposomes under negative pressure; (ii) incubating said liposomes under said negative pressure for a time sufficient to remove substantially all liquid from said liposomes; and (iii) instilling gas into said liposomes until ambient pressures are achieved.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
A gas filled liposome produced by the method of claim 22.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for preparing gas filled liposomes comprising the following steps: (i) allowing liposomes to cool to a temperature between about -10° C. and about -20° C.; (ii) placing said liposomes under a negative pressure of between about 700 mm Hg to about 760 mm Hg; (iii) incubating said liposomes under said negative pressure for about 24 to about 72 hours to remove substantially all liquid from said liposomes; while allowing said liposomes to warm to a temperature between about 10° C. and about 20° C.; and (iv) instilling gas into said liposomes over a period of about 4 to about 8 hours until ambient pressures are achieved, while allowing said liposomes to warm to ambient temperature.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for preparing gas filled liposomes comprising the following steps: (i) allowing liposomes to cool to a temperature between about -10° C. and about -20° C.; (ii) placing said liposomes under a negative pressure of between about 700 mm Hg to about 760 mm Hg; (iii) incubating said liposomes under said negative pressure for about 24 to about 72 hours to remove substantially all liquid from said liposomes; while allowing said liposomes to warm to a temperature between about 10° C. and about 20° C.; and (iv) instilling gas into said liposomes over a period of about 4 to about 8 hours until ambient pressures are achieved, while allowing said liposomes to warm to ambient temperature.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
A gas filled liposome produced by the method of claim 24.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-10-25 | 1998-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-25 | 2001-10-25 | 2002-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-25 | 2005-10-25 | 2006-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |