APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ULTRASOUND CONTRAST AGENTS

摘要

Disclosed is a method of making gas bubbles in a liquid, the bubbles having substantially uniform size suitable for responding to ultrasound or other diagnostic tools. Gas (P2) is forced through one or more pores or nozzles, into the liquid (P1), the nozzles or pores being of substantially uniform diameter, the flow of the gas being controlled to thereby cause the formation of substantially monodisperse gas bubbles in the liquid. Moreover, an apparatus is disclosed for making a suspension of gas bubbles in a liquid of a size suitable for responding to ultrasound or other diagnostic tools. Said apparatus comprises means for forcing a gas through an array of nozzles or pores into the liquid, the nozzles or pores being of substantially uniform diameter, and first means for controlling; a flow parameter of the gas so that gas is suspended as substantially monodisperse gas bubbles in the liquid. Furthermore a kit for preparing a dispersion of gas bubbles of substantially uniform size suitable for ultrasound purposes, is disclosed.