US4774958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic imaging agent and method of preparation
Assignee: SLF LP
•
Filing: 1987-10-01
•
Granted: 1988-10-04
•
Expires: 2007-10-01
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic imaging agent is formed by subjecting an aqueous protein solution to high frequency sonication while heating the solution sufficiently to denature portions of the protein, thereby forming a dispersion of microbubbles stabilized by denatured protein. In a preferred embodiment, the protein solution is formed from human serum albumin, and the formed microbubbles have a relatively uniform size in the 2 to 5 micron range, suitable for imaging of pulmonary or small organ vasculature.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven B. Feinstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/899; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/48; A61B8/481; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/22; A61K49/222; A61K49/223; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
The method of producing an ultrasonic imaging agent, comprising the steps of forming an aqueous protein solution, subjecting said solution to high frequency sonication while heating the solution sufficiently to denature portions of the protein, and forming a dispersion of microbubbles of relatively uniform size stabilized by the denatured protein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
50 words
The method of producing an ultrasonic imaging agent, comprising the steps of forming an aqueous protein solution, subjecting said solution to high frequency sonication while heating the solution sufficiently to denature portions of the protein, and forming a dispersion of microbubbles of relatively uniform size stabilized by the denatured protein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which said aqueous protein solution is formed from albumin.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 in which said stabilized dispersion of microbubbles is formed with substantially all of the microbubbles having diameters less than 9 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 in which said stabilized dispersion of microbubbles is formed with the microbubbles having diameters predominantly in the range from 2 to 5 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 in which said solution is heated sufficiently by means of the sonication to denature said protein portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ultrasonic imaging agent produced by the method of claims 1 or 2.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
63 words
The method of producing an ultrasonic imaging agent, comprising the steps of forming an aqueous albumin solution, subjecting said solution to high frequency sonication while heating the solution sufficiently to denature portions of the albumin, and forming a dispersion of microbubbles of relatively uniform size stabilized by the denatured albumin, said microbubbles having diameters predominantly in the range from 2 to 5 microns.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
63 words
The method of producing an ultrasonic imaging agent, comprising the steps of forming an aqueous albumin solution, subjecting said solution to high frequency sonication while heating the solution sufficiently to denature portions of the albumin, and forming a dispersion of microbubbles of relatively uniform size stabilized by the denatured albumin, said microbubbles having diameters predominantly in the range from 2 to 5 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7 in which said albumin is human serum albumin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ultrasonic imaging agent produced by the method of claims 7 or 8.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
88 words
The method of producing an ultrasonic imaging agent, comprising the steps of forming an aqueous protein solution, subjecting said solution to high frequency sonication while heating said solution sufficiently by means of the sonication to denature portions of the protein, said sonication being carried out by applying ultrasonic energy in a range from 5,000 to 30,000 Hertz (Hz), and forming a dispersion of microbubbles in said solution of relatively uniform size stabilized by the denatured protein, substantially all of the microbubbles having diameters of less than 9 microns.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
88 words
The method of producing an ultrasonic imaging agent, comprising the steps of forming an aqueous protein solution, subjecting said solution to high frequency sonication while heating said solution sufficiently by means of the sonication to denature portions of the protein, said sonication being carried out by applying ultrasonic energy in a range from 5,000 to 30,000 Hertz (Hz), and forming a dispersion of microbubbles in said solution of relatively uniform size stabilized by the denatured protein, substantially all of the microbubbles having diameters of less than 9 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 in which said stabilized dispersion of microbubbles is formed with the microbubbles having diameters predominantly in the range from 2 to 5 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 in which said protein solution is formed from albumin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 in which said protein solution is formed from human serum albumin, and in which said stabilized microbubbles have diameters predominantly in the range from 2 to 5 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasonic imaging agent produced by the method of claims 10, 11, 12 or 13.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4276885A
Cited
US4466442A
Cited
US4500358A
Cited
US4572203A
Cited
US4718433A
Cited
US4548736A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-04 | 1992-04-04 | 1992-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-04 | 1996-04-04 | 1996-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-04 | 2000-04-04 | 2000-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |