SURFACTANT-STABILIZED MICROBUBBLE MIXTURES, PROCESS FOR PREPARING AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

摘要

2148372 9409703 PCTABS00032 The present invention is a mixture including a solvent, a first surfactant and a second, dispersible surfactant different from the first surfactant, the mixture having stabilized gas microbubbles formed therein by sonication. The gas microbubbles are useful in ultrasonic diagnostics. Preferably the first surfactant is substantially soluble in the solvent and the second surfactant is substantially insoluble in the solvent. The present invention also includes a process for preparing the stabilized gas microbubbles and a method for altering the contrast of an ultrasonic image using the microbubbles as a contrast agent.