Patent US5409688A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5409688A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gaseous ultrasound contrast media
Assignee: GE Healthcare Ltd
•
Filing: 1992-06-05
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Granted: 1995-04-25
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Expires: 2012-06-05
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven C. Quay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/22; A61K49/222; A61K49/223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
12 words
Biocompatible ultrasound contrast media comprising free gas microbubbles of a fluorine-containing hydrocarbon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
12 words
Biocompatible ultrasound contrast media comprising free gas microbubbles of a fluorine-containing hydrocarbon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Contrast media of claim 1 comprising a suspension of gas bubbles smaller than 8 microns in a biocompatible aqueous liquid vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
Biocompatible ultrasound contrast media comprising free gas microbubbles of sulfur hexafluoride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
Biocompatible ultrasound contrast media comprising free gas microbubbles of sulfur hexafluoride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
Contrast media of claim 1 wherein the gas is hexafluoropropylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
Contrast media of claim 1 wherein the gas is octafluoropropane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
Contrast media of claim 1 wherein the gas is hexafluoroethane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
Contrast media of claim 1 wherein the gas is octafluoro-2-butene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
Contrast media of claim 1 wherein the gas is hexafluoro-2-butyne.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
Contrast media of claim 1 wherein the gas is hexafluorobuta-1,3-diene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
Contrast media of claim 1 wherein the gas is octafluorocyclobutane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
Contrast media of claim 1 wherein the gas is decafluorobutane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The media according to claim 1 wherein said microbubbles are 8 microns or smaller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The media according to claim 1 wherein said microbubbles form a suspension in an aqueous liquid vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
Biocompatible ultrasound contrast media comprising free gas microbubbles of a fluorine containing hydrocarbon in a solution, said gas having a Q coefficient greater than 30, where Q is the time for complete dissolution of a microbubble of said gas compared to the time for complete dissolution of a microbubble of air in said same solution.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
Biocompatible ultrasound contrast media comprising free gas microbubbles of a fluorine containing hydrocarbon in a solution, said gas having a Q coefficient greater than 30, where Q is the time for complete dissolution of a microbubble of said gas compared to the time for complete dissolution of a microbubble of air in said same solution.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
Biocompatible ultrasound contrast media comprising free gas microbubbles of a fluorine containing hydrocarbon in a solution, said microbubbles having a persistence adequate to survive in the bloodstream long enough that they may be peripherally intravenously infused, travel through the right heart, through the lungs, and into the left cardiac chambers without dissolving into said solution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
Biocompatible ultrasound contrast media comprising free gas microbubbles of a fluorine containing hydrocarbon in a solution, said microbubbles having a persistence adequate to survive in the bloodstream long enough that they may be peripherally intravenously infused, travel through the right heart, through the lungs, and into the left cardiac chambers without dissolving into said solution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
Biocompatible ultrasound contrast media for image enhancement comprising free gas microbubbles of dodecafluoropentane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
Biocompatible ultrasound contrast media for image enhancement comprising free gas microbubbles of dodecafluoropentane.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-24 | 1998-10-24 | 1999-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-24 | 2002-10-24 | 2003-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-24 | 2006-10-24 | 2007-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |