Stable microbubble suspensions comprising saturated phospholipids for ultrasound echography
AssigneeBracco International B.V.
InventorsMichel Schneider, Jean Brochot, Jerome Puginier, Feng Yan
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Abstract
Disclosed are injectable suspensions of gas filled microbubbles in an aqueous carrier liquid usable as contrast agents in ultrasonic echography. The suspensions comprise amphipathic compounds of which at least one may be a laminarized phospholipid as a stabilizer of the microbubbles against collapse with time and pressure. The concentration of phospholipids in the carrier liquid is below 0.01% wt but is at least equal to or above that at which phospholipid molecules are present solely at the gas microbubble-liquid interface. Also disclosed is a method of preparation of the stable suspensions of air or gas filled microbubbles.
Claims11
An injectable suspension for ultrasonic echography comprising a carrier liquid containing at least 10.sup.7 microbubbles per milliliter and at least one saturated phospholipid, wherein the concentration of the phospholipid(s) is below 0.01% by weight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.