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US6017310A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Use of hollow microcapsules

Assignee: Quadrant Healthcare UK Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-10-04
•
Granted: 2000-01-25
•
Expires: 2016-10-04
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Abstract

Abstract A method of generating an ultrasound image comprising the steps of (i) introducing into the location to be imaged an ultrasound contrast agent obtained by spraying a solution or suspension of a wall forming material into a heated gas to form hollow microcapsules, (ii) exposing the microcapsules to ultrasound energy of an intensity of at least 100 kPa and (iii) creating an image based on the scattering of the ultrasound energy by the microcapsules.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard Alan Johnson
  • 👤 Nicolaas de Jong
  • 👤 Paulus Antonius van der Wouw

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 04:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/22; A61K49/222; A61K49/223; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/48; A61B8/481

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 100 words
A method of generating an ultrasound image comprising the steps of (i) introducing into a location to be imaged an ultrasound contrast agent obtained by spraying a solution or suspension of a wall forming material into a heated gas to form hollow microcapsules, (ii) exposing the microcapsules to ultrasound energy with a peak pressure amplitude of at least 100 kPa and (iii) creating an image based on the scattering of the ultrasound energy caused by the microcapsules, wherein there is no significant change in the number of said microcapsules before and after exposure of said microcapsules to said ultrasound energy.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 100 words
A method of generating an ultrasound image comprising the steps of (i) introducing into a location to be imaged an ultrasound contrast agent obtained by spraying a solution or suspension of a wall forming material into a heated gas to form hollow microcapsules, (ii) exposing the microcapsules to ultrasound energy with a peak pressure amplitude of at least 100 kPa and (iii) creating an image based on the scattering of the ultrasound energy caused by the microcapsules, wherein there is no significant change in the number of said microcapsules before and after exposure of said microcapsules to said ultrasound energy.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of generating an ultrasound image comprising the steps of (i) introducing into a location to be imaged an ultrasound contrast agent obtained by spraying a solution or suspension of a wall-forming material into a heated gas to form hollow microcapsules, (ii) exposing the microcapsules to ultrasound energy, the intensity of such energy being varied in order to identify and use an intensity at which the ultrasound energy is scattered optimally by the microcapsules, and (iii) creating an image based on the scattering of the ultrasound energy caused by the microcapsules, wherein there is no significant change in the number of said microcapsules before and after exposure of said microcapsules to said ultrasound energy.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of generating an ultrasound image comprising the steps of (i) introducing into a location to be imaged an ultrasound contrast agent obtained by spraying a solution or suspension of a wall-forming material into a heated gas to form hollow microcapsules, (ii) exposing the microcapsules to ultrasound energy, the intensity of such energy being varied in order to identify and use an intensity at which the ultrasound energy is scattered optimally by the microcapsules, and (iii) creating an image based on the scattering of the ultrasound energy caused by the microcapsules, wherein there is no significant change in the number of said microcapsules before and after exposure of said microcapsules to said ultrasound energy.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 120 words
A method of generating an ultrasound image comprising the steps of (i) introducing into a location to be imaged an ultrasound contrast agent obtained by spraying a solution or suspension of a wall forming material into a heated gas to form hollow microcapsules, (ii) exposing the microcapsules to ultrasound energy, (iii) varying the intensity of the ultrasound energy in stages until the difference between the respective scattering of the ultrasound energy by (a) microcapsules and (b) other material, is maximal, and (iv) creating an image based on the scattering of the ultrasound energy caused by the microcapsules, wherein there is no significant change in the number of said microcapsules before and after exposure of said microcapsules to said ultrasound energy.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 120 words
A method of generating an ultrasound image comprising the steps of (i) introducing into a location to be imaged an ultrasound contrast agent obtained by spraying a solution or suspension of a wall forming material into a heated gas to form hollow microcapsules, (ii) exposing the microcapsules to ultrasound energy, (iii) varying the intensity of the ultrasound energy in stages until the difference between the respective scattering of the ultrasound energy by (a) microcapsules and (b) other material, is maximal, and (iv) creating an image based on the scattering of the ultrasound energy caused by the microcapsules, wherein there is no significant change in the number of said microcapsules before and after exposure of said microcapsules to said ultrasound energy.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 39 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the microcapsules are obtained by spraying as said an aqueous solution of a water-soluble wall-forming material containing a liquid of a volatility greater than that of water.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 17 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the microcapsules are not freeze-dried.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 22 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the microcapsules have a diameter of 0.1 to 25.0 μm.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 26 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the intensity of said ultrasound energy is such as to provide harmonic frequency scattering.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 21 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said location is within the human or animal body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said location is the human or animal heart.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 44 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least 10% of the microcapsules, when suspended in water, are capable of surviving a 0.25 s application of a pressure of 2.66×10 4 Pa without bursting, collapsing or filling with water.

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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) 2003-01-24 2003-07-26 2004-01-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-01-24 2007-07-26 2008-01-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-01-24 2011-07-26 2012-01-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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