Stable emulsions of highly fluorinated organic compound

Claim 1

A method of preparing a physiologically acceptable emulsion, characterised by the steps of: (a) mixing in any order: (i) a highly fluorinated organic compound, (ii) an oil that is not substantially surface active and not significantly water soluble, (iii) a surfactant, and (iv) water, and (b) recovering the resulting emulsion; with the proviso that said emulsion which is recovered in step (b) does not contain from 5-50 g of said highly fluorinated organic compound per 100 ml of the emulsion.

Claim 4

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the highly fluorinated organic compound is selected from perfluorodecalin, perfluorodimethyladamantane, perfluorooctylbromide, perfluoro-4-methyloctahydroquinolidizine, perfluoro-N-methyl-decahydroquinoline, F-methyl-1-oxa-decalin, perfluoro-bicyclo[5.3.0]decane, perfluoro-octahydroquinolidizine, perfluoro-5,6-dihydro-5-decene, perfluoroindane, perfluorotrimethylcyclohexane, perfluoroisopropylcyclohexane and perfluoro-4,5-dihydro-4-octene.

Claim 5

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein there is produced an emulsion which is stable after heating at about 115°C for about 15 minutes.

Claim 6

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the oil is used in an amount from 10 to 30%, by weight of the non-highly fluorinated organic compound volume.

Claim 7

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the oil is used in an amount between about 15 and 20%, by weight of the non-highly fluorinated organic compound volume.

Claim 8

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the oil is a liquid fatty oil.

Claim 9

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant is used in an amount from 0.5 to 7%, by weight of the non-highly fluorinated organic compound volume.

Claim 10

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant is used in an amount from 1 to 2%, by weight of the non-highly fluorinated organic compound volume.

Claim 11

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant is selected from lecithin, egg phosphatides and alkyl salts of oleic acid.

Claim 12

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the mixture formed in step (a) further comprises at least one compound selected from oncotic agents, osmotic pressure controlling agents, serum extending agents and antioxidants.

Claim 13

A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the steps of preparing a first emulsion by mixing the highly fluorinated organic compound with the oil in the presence of all or a portion of the surfactant and some of the water, and preparing a final emulsion by emulsifying the first emulsion, the remaining water and any remaining surfactant.

Claim 14

A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising the step of sterilizing the emulsion recovered in step (b) by heating it to about 115°C, said emulsion maintaining its stability under those conditions.