Iodinated esters contrast medium and use

Claim 1

A method of enhancing an X-ray or ultrasound image of the liver and/or spleen of a human or non-human animal subject comprising the intravascular administration to said subject, prior to imaging, of an injectable contrast medium composition comprising: a water insoluble iodinated ester in suspension in a liquid for injection, the mean particle size of said ester being within the range of 0.002 to 7 microns, wherein the said ester has the formula (I): ##STR2## in which R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-20 aliphatic, C 7-20 araliphatic or C 6-20 aryl group; R 2 is hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-6 aliphatic, C 6-10 aryl or C 7-20 araliphatic group; R 3 is a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-20 aliphatic, C 7-20 araliphatic or C 6-20 aryl group or a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic group having one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and N; or R 2 and R 3 together represent a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-4 alkylene group; or R 3 represents a substituted or unsubstituted triiodophenyl group linked to the oxygen atom via a bridging N-alkylamino, N-alkylcarbamoyl or N-acylamino group which bridging group may carry an additional hydroxy group; and wherein the substituents in the groups R 1 to R 3 are one or more hydroxyl, C 1-5 alkoxy, C 1-6 acyloxy, C 1-5 alkylthio, N-C 1-6 -alkylamino, N-C 1-6 acylamino,N-C 1-6 -acyl-N-C 1-6 -alkylamino, carbamoyl or N-C 1-6 -alkylcarbamoylgroups or halogen atoms, wherein any N-acyl or N-alkyl group may in turn be substituted by one or more hydroxy, C 1-5 alkoxy or C 1-6 acyloxy groups, and when any of R 1 to R 3 contains an aromatic ring said ring may additionally be substituted by one or more C 1-6 alkyl groups; the molecule containing at least one triiodophenyl group in R 1 and/or R 3 , and being metabolizable to products which are soluble in body fluids and are physiologically acceptable; and a physiologically acceptable liquid.

Claim 2

A method of enhancing an X-ray or ultrasound image of the liver and/or spleen of a human or non-human animal subject comprising the intravascular administration to said subject, prior to imaging, of an injectable contrast medium composition comprising: a water insoluble iodinated ester in suspension in a liquid for injection, the mean particle size of said ester being within the range of 0.002 to 7 microns, wherein the said ester has the formula (I): ##STR2## in which R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-20 aliphatic, C 7-20 araliphatic or C 6-20 aryl group; R 2 is hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-6 aliphatic, C 6-10 aryl or C 7-20 araliphatic group; R 3 is a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-20 aliphatic, C 7-20 araliphatic or C 6-20 aryl group or a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic group having one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and N; or R 2 and R 3 together represent a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-4 alkylene group; or R 3 represents a substituted or unsubstituted triiodophenyl group linked to the oxygen atom via a bridging N-alkylamino, N-alkylcarbamoyl or N-acylamino group which bridging group may carry an additional hydroxy group; and wherein the substituents in the groups R 1 to R 3 are one or more hydroxyl, C 1-5 alkoxy, C 1-6 acyloxy, C 1-5 alkylthio, N-C 1-6 -alkylamino, N-C 1-6 acylamino,N-C 1-6 -acyl-N-C 1-6 -alkylamino, carbamoyl or N-C 1-6 -alkylcarbamoylgroups or halogen atoms, wherein any N-acyl or N-alkyl group may in turn be substituted by one or more hydroxy, C 1-5 alkoxy or C 1-6 acyloxy groups, and when any of R 1 to R 3 contains an aromatic ring said ring may additionally be substituted by one or more C 1-6 alkyl groups; the molecule containing at least one triiodophenyl group in R 1 and/or R 3 , and being metabolizable to products which are soluble in body fluids and are physiologically acceptable; and a physiologically acceptable liquid.