US5531980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stable microbubbles suspensions injectable into living organisms
Assignee: Bracco International BV
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Filing: 1994-09-30
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Granted: 1996-07-02
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Expires: 2014-09-30
Abstract
Abstract Gas or air filled microbubble suspensions in aqueous phases usable as imaging contrast agents in ultrasonic echography. They contain laminarized surfactants and, optionally, hydrophilic stabilizers. The laminarized surfactants can be in the form of liposomes. The suspensions are obtained by exposing the laminarized surfactants to air or a gas before or after admixing with an aqueous phase.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel Schneider
- 👤 Daniel Bichon
- 👤 Philippe Bussat
- 👤 Jerome Puginier
- 👤 Eva Hybl-Sutherland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:14
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/22; A61K49/222; A61K49/223; A61K49/227
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A composition suitable for injection into the bloodstream and body cavities of living beings, said composition comprising a suspension of stabilized air or gas microbubbles in a physiologically acceptable aqueous carrier phase having from 0.01 to about 20% by weight of one or more dissolved or dispersed surfactants, at least one of said surfactants being a film-forming surfactant present in a composition at least partially in lamellar or laminar form, in which the surfactant comprises, bound thereto, bioactive species designed for specific targeting purposes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A composition suitable for injection into the bloodstream and body cavities of living beings, said composition comprising a suspension of stabilized air or gas microbubbles in a physiologically acceptable aqueous carrier phase having from 0.01 to about 20% by weight of one or more dissolved or dispersed surfactants, at least one of said surfactants being a film-forming surfactant present in a composition at least partially in lamellar or laminar form, in which the surfactant comprises, bound thereto, bioactive species designed for specific targeting purposes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The composition of claim 1, comprising a liposome solution containing air or gas microbubbles developed therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The composition of claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises, bound thereto, bioactive species designed for immobilizing the bubbles in specifically defined sites in the circuitry system, or in organs, or in tissues.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of imaging organs in a living body, said method comprising the steps of: administering to said body a suspension prepared from a formulation which, upon dissolution in water, forms an aqueous suspension of microbubbles for ultrasonic echography and contains one or more film-forming surfactants in laminar form and hydrosoluble stabilizers; and subjecting said body to ultrasonic echography.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of imaging organs in a living body, said method comprising the steps of: administering to said body a suspension prepared from a formulation which, upon dissolution in water, forms an aqueous suspension of microbubbles for ultrasonic echography and contains one or more film-forming surfactants in laminar form and hydrosoluble stabilizers; and subjecting said body to ultrasonic echography.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said suspension is administered by injection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein 0.1 to 2 ml of the suspension contains 10 8 -10 9 microbubbles/ml, the microbubbles being in the size range from 1-5 μm, is injected into a peripheral vein thereby providing opacification of the left heart under echographic measurements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of transporting in the bloodstream or body cavities of a host bubbles of a foreign gas active therapeutically or diagnostically, said method comprising the step of adminisitering to said host a suspension of a formulation as defined in claim 4.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said composition is administered by injection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
A mixable combination suitable for generating a suspension of microbubbles for use in ultrasonic imaging, said combination comprising: (a) a dry blend comprising one or more film-forming surfactants in at least partially lamellar or laminar form and capable of generating a suspension of microbubbles when brought into contact with an aqueous carrier phase; and (b) an aqueous carrier phase mixable with said dry blend, said dry blend and said aqueous carrier phase being mixable with each other to produce said suspension of microbubbles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A mixable combination suitable for generating a suspension of microbubbles for use in ultrasonic imaging, said combination comprising: (a) a dry blend comprising one or more film-forming surfactants in at least partially lamellar or laminar form and capable of generating a suspension of microbubbles when brought into contact with an aqueous carrier phase; and (b) an aqueous carrier phase mixable with said dry blend, said dry blend and said aqueous carrier phase being mixable with each other to produce said suspension of microbubbles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
A combination according to claim 9, wherein said surfactants are phospholipids.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The combination according to claim 10, wherein said phospholipids are lecithins.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein said phospholipids are selected from the group consisting of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidyl-choline, phosphatidyl-ethanolamine, phosphatidyl-serine, phosphatidyl-glycerol, phosphatidyl-inositol, cardiolipin and sphyngomyelin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination according to claim 9, wherein said surfactants are in association with other substances affecting properties of liposomes, said other substances being selected from the group consisting of dicetyl-phosphate, cholesterol, ergosterol, phytosterol, sitosterol, lanosterol, tocopterol, propyl gallate, ascorbyl palmitate and butylated hydroxytoluene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination according to claim 9, wherein said surfactants are in association with dissolved viscosity enhancers or stabilizers selected from the group consisting of linear and cross-linked poly- and oligo-saccharides, sugars, hydrophilic polymers and iodinated compounds in a weight ratio to said surfactants of between about 1:5 to 100:1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination according to claim 14, wherein said viscosity enhancer is Iopamidol.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination according to claim 9, in which the surfactants comprise up to 50% by weight of non-laminar surfactants selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, esters and ethers of fatty acids and alcohols with polyols.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination according to claim 16, wherein said polyols are selected from the group consisting of polyalkylene glycols, polyalkylenated sugars and other carbohydrates, and polyalkylenated glycerol.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 9, wherein said surfactants in laminar form are in the form of fine layers deposited on the surface of soluble or insoluble solid particulate material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination according to claim 18, in which said insoluble solid particulate material is glass or polymer beads.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 18, in which said soluble particulate material is made of hydrosoluble carbohydrates, polysaccharides, synthetic polymers, albumin, gelatin or Iopamidol.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
10 words
The combination according to claim 9, which comprises freeze-dried liposomes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-02 | 2000-01-01 | 2000-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-02 | 2004-01-01 | 2004-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-02 | 2008-01-01 | 2008-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |