1916results about "Echographic/ultrasound-imaging preparations" patented technology

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions and methods useful for the in vivo delivery of a pharmaceutically active agent, wherein the agent is associated with a polymeric biocompatible material.

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions and methods useful for the in vivo delivery of substantially water insoluble pharmacologically active agents (such as the anticancer drug paclitaxel) in which the pharmacologically active agent is delivered in the form of suspended particles coated with protein (which acts as a stabilizing agent). In particular, protein and pharmacologically active agent in a biocompatible dispersing medium are subjected to high shear, in the absence of any conventional surfactants, and also in the absence of any polymeric core material for the particles. The procedure yields particles with a diameter of less than about 1 micron. The use of specific composition and preparation conditions (e.g., addition of a polar solvent to the organic phase), and careful election of the proper organic phase and phase fraction, enables the reproducible production of unusually small nanoparticles of less than 200 nm diameter, which can be sterile-filtered. The particulate system produced according to the invention can be converted into a redispersible dry powder comprising nanoparticles of water-insoluble drug coated with a protein, and free protein to which molecules of the pharmacological agent are bound. This results in a unique delivery system, in which part of the pharmacologically active agent is readily bioavailable (in the form of molecules bound to the protein), and part of the agent is present within particles without any polymeric matrix therein.

Therapeutic delivery systems comprising gaseous precursor-filled microspheres comprising a therapeutic are described. Methods for employing such microspheres in therapeutic delivery applications are also provided. Therapeutic delivery systems comprising gaseous precursor-filled liposomes having encapsulated therein a contrast agent or drug are preferred. Methods of and apparatus for preparing such liposomes and methods for employing such liposomes in therapeutic delivery applications are also disclosed.

The present invention employs hydrogels as acoustic couplings for clinical applications of ultrasound imaging and therapy, but is particularly applicable to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) based therapy. While other materials can be used, it has been determined that polyacrylamide is sufficiently robust and transmissive to withstand the high temperatures encountered in HIFU therapy. One embodiment of a hydrogel coupling is configured in shape and size (length) to ensure that a focal region of an ultrasound transducer is disposed proximate the target area when the distal tip of the transducer is in contact with tissue. These couplings can be shaped to correspond to the beam focus characteristics of specific transducers. Water can be applied to hydrate the tip of the hydrogel coupling during use, and medication absorbed into the hydrogel material can be applied to the tissue in contact with the distal surface of the hydrogel.

The present invention relates to methods for treating tissue in the thoracic cavity of a subject by the application of a cryogen, or using the cryogen to create an isotherm in proximity to the tissue to be treated. A wide variety of conditions may be treated using the methods of the invention including asthma, neoplastic disease and a variety of conditions characterized by inflammation in lung and chest tissue.

A booster comprising a plenty of microbubbles of a gas in a liquid, e.g. about 4x107 cells/ml of microbubbles of a gas having a diameter of 0.1 to 100 mu m in a 3 to 5% human serum albumin solution, and a pharmaceutical liquid composition comprising the booster as set forth above and a medicament, which are useful for the therapy of various diseases together with exposure of ultrasonic, where the therapeutic effects of the medicament is enhanced by the application of ultrasound in the presence of the booster.

An vivo biocompatible and bio-excretable lubricant and ultrasound coupling fluid or gel comprising polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and/or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The inventive couplant fluid or gel comprises polyvinylpyrrolidone and/or polyvinyl alcohol solutions in water to which humectants such as alkylene glycols and/or polyalkylene glycols are added to achieve desired tactile and drying characteristics. Additionally, such fluids and gels may be prepared by addition of organic and inorganic cross-linkers.

The use of silicon as an imaging agent is described.

A composition of an ultrasound coupling medium is provided. The composition comprises at least 90% water, at least one preservative, and at least one base substance, wherein the composition is extensible into a film with a thickness of up to 1/10 mm, wherein the composition can withstand a pressure of up to 30 kp without tearing, wherein the composition can adapt exactly to skin surface without causing any significant air pockets, and wherein the composition can be removed from skin with substantially no residue left behind. The at least one base substance may be a galactomannan, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a complex formation of galactomannan and borate ions, or comninations thereof.

Pain factors are labeled with targeted agents or markers delivered into the body. The labeled pain factors are imaged with appropriate imaging tools in a manner allowing selective identification and localization of areas of pain source or transmission. The labeled pain factors allow spatial differentiation in the imaging sufficient to specify the location of the pain so as to drive therapeutic decisions and techniques in order to treat the pain. Pain factors labeled and imaged in this manner may include one or more of nerve factors, blood vessel factors, cellular factors, and inflammation factors. Labeled markers may include for example radioactive materials (e.g. tritiated or iodinated molecules) or other materials such as metal (e.g. gold) nanoparticles. Intermediary binding materials may be used, such as for example bi-specific antibodies. Therapeutic components of the system and method include for example localized energy delivery or ablation treatments, or local drug or other chemical delivery. Locations containing pain factor selectively bound by targeted agents are selectively treated with directed energy into a region containing the targeted agent bound to the pain factor.

Echogenic devices, and methods of making and using such devices, are disclosed. In one aspect, the devices include a porous polymeric material that is preparable by extracting a phase separated composition. In another aspect, the echogenic devices include a polymeric composition having porous particles therein. Preferably the devices are medical devices.

The invention provides a novel human Mab Fab, cloned by phage display, and its use in diagnostic and therapeutic methods. In particular the invention provides a method for analyzing the OxLDL components of atherosclerotic plaques in vivo and a means to determine their relative pathology. As the method is based on a human Fab rather than a mouse Mab, the progress or regression of the disease may be monitored over time. The antibody may also be used for the analysis of surgical or serum samples ex vivo for the presence of OxLDL. The antibody may also be used to target therapeutic agents to the site of atherosclerotic plaques or may have use as a therapeutic agent itself.

Novel ultrasound methods comprising administering to a patient a targeted vesicle composition which comprises vesicles comprising a lipid, protein or polymer, encapsulating a gas, in combination with a targeting ligand, and scanning the patient using ultrasound. The scanning may comprise exposing the patient to a first type of ultrasound energy and then interrogating the patient using a second type of ultrasound energy. The targeting ligand preferably targets tissues, cells or receptors, including myocardial cells, endothelial cells, epithelial cells, tumor cells and the glycoprotein GPIIbIIIa receptor. The methods may be used to detect a thrombus, enhancement of an old or echogenic thrombus, low concentrations of vesicles and vesicles targeted to tissues, cells or receptors.

Medical apparatus and processes controllably generate medically useful micro or nano bubbles of medically desirable and controllably selectable size, size distribution, homogeneity and concentration (and/or other key bubble parameters) for patient infusion, and/or which may incorporate therapeutic or other agents for patient infusion and/or may be combined with therapeutic or other agents prior to infusion into patients. The bubble generation apparatus and processes controllably permit the adjustment and selection of key bubble parameters through bubble generation actuation and orientation techniques and through selection of bubble fluid compositions in order to facilitate medical research and/or to optimize treatment for imaging, therapy, sonoporation, inertial and non-inertial cavitation, and acoustic activation, among other medical uses. Disposable cartridges containing such bubbles are provided and may include means for patient infusion.

The invention is directed biopsy site markers and methods of marking a biopsy site, so that the location of the biopsy cavity is readily visible by conventional imaging methods, particularly by ultrasonic imaging. The biopsy site markers of the invention have high ultrasound reflectivity, presenting a substantial acoustic signature from a small marker, so as to avoid obscuring diagnostic tissue features in subsequent imaging studies, and can be readily distinguished from biological features. The several disclosed embodiments of the biopsy site marker of the invention have a high contrast of acoustic impedance as placed in a tissue site, so as to efficiently reflect and scatter ultrasonic energy, and preferably include gas-filled internal pores. The markers may have a non-uniform surface contour to enhance the acoustic signature. The markers have a characteristic form which is recognizably artificial during medical imaging. The biopsy site marker may be accurately fixed to the biopsy site so as to resist migration from the biopsy cavity when a placement instrument is withdrawn, and when the marked tissue is subsequently moved or manipulated.

A method of generating an ultrasound image comprising the steps of (i) introducing into the location to be imaged an ultrasound contrast agent obtained by spraying a solution or suspension of a wall forming material into a heated gas to form hollow microcapsules, (ii) exposing the microcapsules to ultrasound energy at an insonation frequency of less than 3.5 MHz and (iii) creating an image based on the scattering of the ultrasound energy by the microcapsules.

The present invention relates to a self-molding permanent agent and a method for proceeding free-rod and free-band type permanent, more particularly to a self-molding permanent agent comprising (a) a reducing composition containing a reducing agent reducing a disulfide bond of cystine on the hair and a molding stimulant spontaneously molding to fix a hair design; (b) a molding composition inducing to mold after reacting with the molding stimulant; and (c) a softening composition releasing the action of a molding stimulant, and a method for pressing a free-rod and free-band type permanent, which overcomes a disadvantage in the conventional method for pressing a permanent that needs to wear a curling device such as rods for a permanent (perm rod) or rubber band and improves to apply a wave set without a hair-curling device for a short time, since it has a self-molding feature.