Bismuth particle x-ray contrast agents
AssigneeState of Oregon by and through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Portland State Unive
InventorsAndrea Goforth, Anna Brown
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Abstract
Radiopaque bismuth particles and methods of making and using the radiopaque bismuth particles are disclosed. The radiopaque bismuth particles include an elemental bismuth core and an outer coating comprising one or more coating agents. Disclosed radiopaque bismuth particles are suitable for use in surgical sponges and plastic objects.
Claims23
1-5. (canceled)
A radiopaque surgical sponge comprising a radiopaque member comprising a radiopaque polymeric composition, wherein the radiopaque polymeric composition comprises:
- a polymeric matrix;
- and
- a plurality of bismuth particles dispersed within the polymeric matrix, at least some of the bismuth particles comprising an elemental bismuth core and an outer coating comprising at least one hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or amphiphilic coating agent.
11-33. (canceled)
A method for making a radiopaque surgical sponge comprising bismuth particles, the method comprising:
- preparing radiopaque coated bismuth particles by
- at least partially solubilizing a bismuth salt in a solution comprising a solvent and at least one hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or amphiphilic coating agent to form a solubilized bismuth solution,
- adding a reducing agent to the solubilized bismuth solution to reduce bismuth ions and form elemental bismuth particles, whereby the at least one coating agent forms an outer coating on the elemental bismuth particles to form radiopaque coated bismuth particles comprising an elemental bismuth core and an outer coating comprising the coating agent, and
- isolating the radiopaque coated bismuth particles;
- combining the radiopaque coated bismuth particles with a non-polar solvent to provide solvent-coated bismuth particles;
- dispersing the solvent-coated bismuth particles in unpolymerized silicone to provide a mixture;
- impregnating or coating a member with the mixture, whereby the unpolymerized silicone polymerizes to form silicone-coated bismuth particles;
- drying the impregnated or coated member;
- and
- incorporating the impregnated or coated member into a surgical sponge.
40-43. (canceled)
A method for making a radiopaque surgical sponge comprising bismuth particles, the method comprising:
- preparing radiopaque coated bismuth particles by
- combining elemental bismuth and at least one hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or amphiphilic coating agent to produce a mixture,
- subjecting the mixture to mechanical mixing comprising ball-milling, grinding, or a combination thereof, wherein the mechanical mixing is sufficient to break apart at least a portion of the elemental bismuth to form bismuth microparticles, bismuth nanoparticles, or a combination thereof, whereby the at least one coating agent covalently binds, ionically binds, or adsorbs to outer surfaces of the bismuth microparticles, bismuth nanoparticles, or combination thereof to form coated bismuth particles, and
- isolating coated bismuth particles from the mixture;
- dispersing the radiopaque-coated bismuth particles in unpolymerized silicone to provide a mixture;
- impregnating or coating a member with the mixture;
- drying the impregnated or coated member, whereby the unpolymerized silicon polymerizes to form silicone-coated bismuth particles;
- and
- incorporating the impregnated or coated member into a surgical sponge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.