Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them

摘要

Gas filled microbubble and microballoon suspensions in aqueous phases usable as imaging contrast agents in ultrasonic echography. One can impart outstanding resistance against collapse under pressure to these gas-filled microbubbles and microballoons used as contrast agents in ultrasonic echography by using as fillers gases whose solubility in water, expressed in liter of gas by liter of water under standard conditions, divided by the square root of the molecular weight does not exceed 0.003. Contrast agents with particular mixtures of gases are disclosed that have advantageous properties. Dry formulations useful in making the contrast agents are also disclosed.