Concentrated stabilized microbubble-type ultrasonic imaging agent and method of production.

摘要

A microbubble-type ultrasonic imaging agent is provided comprising a parenterally-administerable aqueous medium containing a dispersion of microspheres predominantly of diameters less than 10 microns, wherein the microspheres consist of gas microbubbles encapsulated with water-insolubilized biocompatible material. The imaging agent is characterized by having a concentration of greater than 100 x 10<6> microspheres per milliliter, and a stability such that this concentration is maintained for over 4 weeks at a temperature of 20 to 25 DEG C. A preferred method of producing the imaging agent is also disclosed.