Systems, methods, and devices for microbubbles

摘要

A suspension of gas-filled microbubbles can be synthesized by sonicating a lipid solution and a first gas in a reaction volume. The resulting microbubble suspension can be stored for later use, for example, for infusion into a patient for gas delivery thereto. Various techniques can improve the shelf life of the microbubbles. For example, the microbubble suspension can be freeze-dried to remove water and the first gas therefrom while leaving the microbubble shells intact. In an alternative, the microbubble suspension can be frozen. In still another alternative, the microbubble suspension can be formed with a first gas that has a low solubility, thereby creating microbubbles with increased stability. Prior to use, the microbubble suspension can be prepared by exchanging the gas in the microbubble cores, rehydrating, and/or raising the temperature of the stored microbubbles.

主权项

1. A microbubble method comprising:
generating a plurality of microbubbles by ultrasonically agitating an interface between a lipid solution and a first gas in a reaction volume, each generated microbubble having a lipid monolayer shell surrounding a core of the first gas; freezing the generated plurality of microbubbles so as to remove water and the first gas therefrom, leaving behind freeze-dried lipid monolayer shells; sealing the freeze-dried lipid monolayer shells in a storage container under vacuum; storing the freeze-dried lipid monolayer shells under vacuum in the sealed storage container for at least a first time period; and after the first time period, exposing the freeze-dried lipid monolayer shells to an atmosphere of a second gas such that the core of each lipid monolayer shell is filled with the second gas, wherein the second gas is different from the first gas.