Abstract: The invention relates to an inexpensive and easy to use method of visualizing an arterial circulation, using biodegradable microspheres which are permeated with an imaging energy absorbent contrast material, such as an X-ray absorbent material, which enables the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. The microspheres may be comprised of a variety of materials, including human albumin, and may be dyed with a number of X-ray absorbent materials, or other imaging energy absorbent materials. The microspheres are injected into the bloodstream at a particular location such that they travel through the desired circulation, e.g. an arterial circulation and ultimately become lodged in the capillaries of a tissue of interest. Upon exposure of the arterial circulation to X-rays, blood vessels therein containing the microspheres will absorb the X-rays, causing them to show on a developed X-ray film in contrast to other blood vessels and body tissue which do not contain the microspheres that transmit the X-rays.

Abstract: A method and a composition for accumulating and the binding of food fats in an animal body gastrointestinal tract. The method and composition rely upon non-biodegradable collagen particles, such as microspheres, having a size of at least two microns and a fat receptor, such as bile, capable of having food fat adhered thereto on the surface of the particles. These particles are sufficiently large so that they do not pass through the surface mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract and permit the particles with the food fat to pass through the gastrointestinal tract and out of the body through animal excretion.

Abstract: A process for making a volumetric determination of the quantity of a fluid, such as a liquid, by evaluation of a small sample of that fluid. The method comprises labeling microspheres with a non-radioactive substance and introducing the labeled microspheres into a body of fluid for which a determination is to be made. The microspheres are allowed to disperse in the body of fluid. Thereafter, a sample of the fluid which is of know or measurable volume, is selected. The number of microspheres present in the sample is then determined, from which a calculation of the volumetric measurement of the fluid may be made. The process is also adaptable to measuring the flow rate of a moving stream of fluid, since volume is one of the parameters of flow rate, and is also adaptable to determine the percentages of fluid components present in a mixture thereof.