US5740807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Suspended ultra-sound induced microbubble cavitation imaging
Assignee: University of Nebraska System
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Filing: 1996-09-26
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Granted: 1998-04-21
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Expires: 2016-09-26
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic imaging technique is disclosed which uses microbubbles as echo contrast agents. In general the method employs maitenance of an ultrasound signal while the contrast agent is intravenously injected into a mammal. Once all the contrast agent has been injected and transmission of the signal is suspended for a period of time sufficient for the microbubbles perfuse the organ of interest. Transmission of the ultrasound signal is then resumed and peak contrast images are obtained which rival more complicated imaging procedures such as nuclear resonance imaging.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas R. Porter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:37
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/48; A61B8/481; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/06; A61K49/18; A61K49/1806; A61K49/22; A61K49/222; A61K49/223; G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52036; G01S7/52038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of ultrasonic myocardial, renal, or hepatic imaging which employs an echo contrast agent having microbubbles comprising: introducing said echo contrast agent into an animal by intravenous injection; suspending ultrasonic transmission for a time sufficient for said contrast agent to perfuse an organ of interest and thereafter; resuming ultrasonic transmission.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of ultrasonic myocardial, renal, or hepatic imaging which employs an echo contrast agent having microbubbles comprising: introducing said echo contrast agent into an animal by intravenous injection; suspending ultrasonic transmission for a time sufficient for said contrast agent to perfuse an organ of interest and thereafter; resuming ultrasonic transmission.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of ultrasonic myocardial, renal, or hepatic imaging which employs an echo contrast agent having microbubbles comprising: introducing said echo contrast agent into an animal by intravenous injection; altering ultrasonic transmission so that microbubble cavitation is decreased by decreasing the ultrasonic field encountered by said bubbles until said bubbles or a majority thereof perfuse the organ of interest and thereafter; resuming ultrasonic transmission to visualize said organ.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of ultrasonic myocardial, renal, or hepatic imaging which employs an echo contrast agent having microbubbles comprising: introducing said echo contrast agent into an animal by intravenous injection; altering ultrasonic transmission so that microbubble cavitation is decreased by decreasing the ultrasonic field encountered by said bubbles until said bubbles or a majority thereof perfuse the organ of interest and thereafter; resuming ultrasonic transmission to visualize said organ.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said animal is a dog and said step of introducing contrast agent is in an amount of from about 0.005 ml/kg to about 0.030 ml/kg.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said animal is a human and said step of introducing said contrast agent is in an amount of from about 0.001 ml/kg to about 0.0020 ml/kg.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of introducing said echo contrast agent comprises: introducing a contrast agent with perfluorocarbon gas or other insoluble gas with a molecular weight of greater than 100 grams/mole encapsulated microbubbles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said perfluorocarbon gas is selected from the group consisting of perfluoromethane, perfluorobutane, perfluoroethane, and perfluoropropane or a blood insoluble gas with a molecular weight of greater than 100 grams/mole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said perfluorocarbon gas is perflurobutane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said microbubbles are encapsulated by a filmogenic protein such as human serum albumin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said human serum albumin is diluted with dextrose.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said dilution of human serum albumin with dextrose is three to one.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said human serum albumin is a 5% by weight solution and said dextrose is a 5% by weight solution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said altering ultrasonic transmission is for a time period of approximately of 10-120 seconds.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of ultrasonic myocardial, renal, or hepatic imaging which employs an echo contrast agent having microbubbles comprising: introducing said echo contrast agent into an animal by intravenous injection; decreasing ultrasonic energy transmission so that microbubble cavitation is decreased thereby increasing the size and number of said microbubbles to increase back scattered ultrasound energy, and thereafter; resuming ultrasonic transmission once said bubbles or a majority of said bubbles perfuse the organ of interest at levels sufficient to visualize said organ.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of ultrasonic myocardial, renal, or hepatic imaging which employs an echo contrast agent having microbubbles comprising: introducing said echo contrast agent into an animal by intravenous injection; decreasing ultrasonic energy transmission so that microbubble cavitation is decreased thereby increasing the size and number of said microbubbles to increase back scattered ultrasound energy, and thereafter; resuming ultrasonic transmission once said bubbles or a majority of said bubbles perfuse the organ of interest at levels sufficient to visualize said organ.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of ultrasonic myocardial, renal, or hepatic imaging comprising: preparing an echo contrast agent which comprises microbubbles; introducing said echo contrast agent into an animal; altering ultrasonic transmission so that microbubble cavitation is decreased so that the ultrasonic field encountered by said bubbles is decreased and until said bubbles or a majority thereof perfuse the organ of interest and thereafter, resuming ultrasonic transmission to visualize said organ.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of ultrasonic myocardial, renal, or hepatic imaging comprising: preparing an echo contrast agent which comprises microbubbles; introducing said echo contrast agent into an animal; altering ultrasonic transmission so that microbubble cavitation is decreased so that the ultrasonic field encountered by said bubbles is decreased and until said bubbles or a majority thereof perfuse the organ of interest and thereafter, resuming ultrasonic transmission to visualize said organ.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of altering transmission comprises: suspending ultrasonic transmission for a period of approximately 10 to approximately 30 seconds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of preparing said echo contrast agent includes the step of: diluting a solution of 5% by weight albumin with 5% by weight dextrose by 3 to 1 to create a mixture.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: sonicating said mixture in the presence of a perfluorocarbon gas.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said perfluorocarbon gas is selected from the group consisting of perfluoropropane and perfluorobutane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said perfluorocarbon gas is perfluorobutane.
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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) | 2001-04-20 | 2001-10-20 | 2002-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-20 | 2005-10-20 | 2006-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-20 | 2009-10-20 | 2010-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |