# US 12,005,130 B2 · Generating microbubbles for bubble studies

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- Number: US 12,005,130 B2
- Document ID: US12005130B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/071,388
- Filed: 2020-10-15
- Published: 2021-04-22
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-10-16
- Assignees: Agitated Solutions Inc.
- Applicants: Agitated Solutions Inc.
- Inventors: Benjamin Arcand; Carl Lance Boling; Morgan Evans; Micah J. Eimer; Jennifer Chmura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005130B2

## CPC

- A61K 49/223: {Microbubbles, hollow microspheres, free gas bubbles, gas microspheres}
- A61M 5/31596: {comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing}
- A61M 5/007: {for contrast media}
- A61M 2005/006: {for gases, e.g. CO2}
- A61M 2005/3128: {Incorporating one-way valves, e.g. pressure-relief or non-return valves}
- A61M 2039/0235: {having an additional inlet, e.g. for a guidewire or a catheter tube}
- A61M 2205/33: Controlling, regulating or measuring
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

A method for generating microbubbles may include providing a syringe having a barrel defining an interior volume, a plunger, a tip and a check valve assembly. The check valve assembly may have an inlet port; a check valve that is configured to open when the plunger is drawn back by a user; and a nozzle in fluid communication with the interior volume and, when the check valve is open, in fluid communication with the inlet port. The method may include drawing liquid into the interior volume; removing a seal from the inlet port and drawing gas adjacent the inlet ports into the interior volume to form microbubbles in the liquid already drawn in; coupling the tip to an intravenous line associated with a patient undergoing a bubble study; and depressing the plunger to force the liquid and the formed microbubbles into the intravenous line.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for generating microbubbles, the method comprising:
providing a syringe comprising a barrel defining an interior volume, a plunger, a tip and a check valve assembly; the check valve assembly comprising: (i) one or more inlet ports; (ii) a check valve that is configured to open when the plunger is drawn back by a user; (iii) one or more nozzles in fluid communication with the interior volume and, when the check valve is open, in fluid communication with the one or more inlet ports;
drawing back the plunger with the tip coupled to a source of liquid to thereby draw the liquid into the interior volume;
removing a seal from the one or more inlet ports, decoupling the tip from the source of liquid, and sealing the tip;
further drawing back the plunger to draw gas adjacent the inlet ports into the interior volume to form microbubbles in the liquid already drawn into the interior volume;
unsealing the tip and coupling the tip to an intravenous line associated with a patient undergoing a bubble study;
depressing the plunger to force the liquid and the formed microbubbles into the intravenous line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more nozzles are configured to form, in a liquid that is in the interior volume, microbubbles having a diameter that corresponds to a diameter of at least one of the one or more nozzles, when the plunger is drawn back.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the check value comprises a flexible membrane that is configured to open towards the interior volume.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more nozzles are configured to have diameters that are a fraction of a diameter of a desired microbubble.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more nozzles have diameters that are selected from 500 angstroms, 1 micron, 2 microns, 3 microns and 4 microns.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the check valve comprises rubber or silicone.