Mucoadhesive compositions for increasing the ultrasonic image contrast of the digestive tract
AssigneeBracco International B.V.
InventorsHerve Tournier, Roland Hyacinthe, Friedrich Cavagna
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Abstract
Suspensions of either echogenic or magnetic particles in aqueous bioadhesive carriers effectively improve imaging by echography, respectively NMRI, of the digestive tract. Affinity of the compositions for the gastric mucosa can be adapted to the needs by appropriately selecting the carrier in function to inherent bioadhesive capacity: this technique leads to improved visualization of selected portions of the lumen.
Claims8
A composition for enhancing the image contrast in ultrasonic imaging of the digestive tract of humans and animals comprising a physiologically acceptable water insoluble and gel forming carrier phase which when hydrated has differential affinity for the gastrointestinal mucosa in admixture with or bound to echogenic particles in the form of air- or gas-filled microspheres bound by a material envelope, the carrier phase being selected from the group consisting of polysiloxanes and copolymers of acrylic acid cross-linked with polyfunctional allyl acrylates or polyfunctional allyl ethers of glycols or sugars.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.