Shen H Peng

US Patent:

53524365, Oct 4, 1994

Filed:

Nov 22, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/162421

Inventors:

Margaret A. Wheatley - Media PA
Shen Peng - Hayward CA
Shruti Singhal - Penn Valley PA
Barry B. Goldberg - Oreland PA

Assignee:

Drexel University - Philadelphia PA

International Classification:

A61K 4900

US Classification:

424 9

Abstract:

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.