Abstract: The invention relates to a triggered ultrasound imaging method for imaging of the myocardium, minimizing the risk of eliciting cardiac arrhythmia. Particularly, the invention is directed to a method of assessing cardiac perfusion. Destruction pulses are triggered such that they fall within the refractory period of the heart, while imaging pulses are triggered at any given time of the ECG cycle, preferably during end-systole.

Abstract: Ultrasound contrast agents comprising microbubbles of biocompatible gas, e.g. a sulphur halide or a perfluorocarbon, stabilized by opsonisable amphiphilic material, e.g. a membrane-forming lipid such as a phospholipid, especially a negatively charged phospholipid such as a phosphatidylserine, may exhibit prolonged contrast-generating residence time in the liver following intravenous administration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing ultrasound images from a subject preadministered with an ultrasound contrast agent wherein quantitative measures of the contrast enhancement pattern of said lymph nodes are generated. The lymphatic system is made of vessels or ducts that begin in tissues and are designed to carry lymph fluid to local lymph nodes where the fluid is filtered and processed and sent to the next lymph node down the line until the fluid reaches the thoracic duct where it enters the blood stream. Lymph fluid which enters the lymph vessels carries with it substances and materials from the tissue, e.g. antigens, particles and cells. The lymph nodes process the lymph fluid by sieving it and macrophages inside the nodes remove particulate and cell material carried by the lymph fluid via phagocytosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates methods for the identification of a sentinel lymph node and to compounds and preparations used in said methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a triggered ultrasound imaging method for imaging of the myocardium, minimizing the risk of eliciting cardiac arrhythmia. Particularly, the invention is directed to a method of assessing cardiac perfusion. Destruction pulses are triggered such that they fall within the refractory period of the heart, while imaging pulses are triggered at any given time of the ECG cycle, preferably during end-systole.

Abstract: Ultrasonic visualisation of a suject, particularly of perfusion in the myocardium and other tissues, is performed using novel gas-containing contrast agent preparations which promote controllable and temporary growth of the gas phase in vivo following administration and can therefore act as deposited perfusion tracers. The preparations include a coadministerable composition comprising a diffusible component capable of inward diffusion into the dispersed gas phase to promote temporary growth thereof. In cardiac perfusion imaging the preparations may advantageously be coadministered with vasodilator drugs such as adenosine in order to enhance the differences in return signal intensity from normal and hypoperfused myocardial tissue respectively.

Abstract: A combined preparation comprising:

Abstract: A combined preparation comprising: i) an ultrasound contrast agent capable of accumulation in tissue microvasculature; and ii) a pharamacologically effective amount of a vasodilator drug may be used in perfusion imaging, especially of the myocardium. The contrast agent accumulates in tissue in concentrations related to the regional rate of tissue perfusion, and the vasodilator drug enhances distinction between normally perfused and underperfused tissue.

Abstract: Ultrasonic visualisation of a subject, particularly of perfusion in the myocardium and other tissues, is performed using novel gas-containing contrast agent preparations which provide controllable and temporary growth of the gas phase in vitro following administration and can therefore act as deposited perfusion tracers. The preparations comprise an injectable aqueous gas dispersion and an administrable substance or substances capable of destabilising the dispersed gas to provide temporary growth thereof. In cardiac perfusion imaging the preparations may advantageously be coadministered with vasodilator drugs such as adenosine in order to enhance the differences between return signal intensity from normal and hypoperfused myocardial tissue respectively.

Abstract: Ultrasonic visualisation of a suject, particularly of perfusion in the myocardium and other tissues, is performed using novel gas-containing contrast agent preparations which promote controllable and temporary growth of the gas phase in vivo following administration and can therefore act as deposited perfusion tracers. The preparations include a coadministerable composition comprising a diffusible component capable of inward diffusion into the dispersed gas phase to promote temporary growth thereof. In cardiac perfusion imaging the preparations may advantageously be coadministered with vasodilator drugs such as adenosine in order to enhance the differences in return signal intensity from normal and hypoperfused myocardial tissue respectively.

Abstract: Ultrasonic visualisation of a subject, particularly of perfusion in the myocardium and other tissues, is performed using novel gas-containing contrast agent preparations which promote controllable and temporary growth of the gas phase in vivo following administration and can therefore act as deposited perfusion tracers. The preparations comprise an injectable aqueous medium comprising dispersed gas and an injectable oil-in-water emulsion in which the oil phase comprises a diffusible component capable of diffusion in vivo into the dispersed gas to promote temporary growth thereof, such that material present at the surfaces of the dispersed gas phase and material present at the surfaces of the dispersed oil phase have affinity for each other, e.g. as a result of having opposite charges.

Abstract: Ultrasonic visualisation of a suject, particularly of perfusion in the myocardium and other tissues, is performed using novel gas-containing contrast agent preparations which promote controllable and temporary growth of the gas phase in vivo following administration and can therefore act as deposited perfusion tracers. The preparations include a coadministerable composition comprising a diffusible component capable of inward diffusion into the dispersed gas phase to promote temporary growth thereof. In cardiac perfusion imaging the preparations may advantageously be coadministered with vasodilator drugs such as adenosine in order to enhance the differences in return signal intensity from normal and hypoperfused myocardial tissue respectively.

Abstract: Ultrasound contrast agents of the phase shift colloid type, comprising emulsions of volatile oils in water, are provided with gas-containing nucleation sites associated with (e.g. within) droplets of the dispersed oil phase, in order to enhance efficacy and control of the liquid-to-gas phase transition.

Abstract: A method of contrast agent-enhanced imaging involving induction of vasomodification, e.g. by physical or pharmacological means, in which pre- and post-vasomodification images in respect of free-flowing contrast or tracer agent in a substantially steady state distribution are recorded as part of a single imaging sequence and are compared to identify any local variations resulting from changes in vascular volume caused by the vasomodification. Imaging techniques which may be employed include ultrasound imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray imaging and nuclear tracer techniques such as scintigraphy.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging using gas microbubble-containing contrast agents may be performed in the recirculating phase following admixture of the contrast agent with the blood pool, thereby prolonging the useful imaging time window compared to that conventionally obtained during the backscatter signal peak resulting from first pass of a contrast agent bolus. The length of the time window may further be increased by imaging at ultrasound frequencies of 2 MHz or less, particularly by harmonic imaging at transmit frequencies less than the resonance frequencies of the gas microbubbles.

Abstract: The invention relates to the administration of dynamic, particulate dispersion systems, e.g. gas-containing diagnostic contrast agents, more particularly to apparatus and a method for the controlled and substantially steady state administration of such gravity segregating dispersions by infusion. Controlled delivery of substantially homogeneous gravity segregating dispersion, e.g. gas-containing contrast agent, may be achieved by an infusion procedure in which the dispersion is delivered from a syringe or other preferably cylinder shaped reservoir, e.g. tubing, which is exposed to a thermal gradient across its body.

Abstract: Ultrasound contrast agents comprising microbubbles of biocompatible gas, e.g. a sulphur halide or a perfluorocarbon, stabilized by opsonisable amphiphilic material, e.g. a membrane-forming lipid such as a phospholipid, especially a negatively charged phospholipid such as a phosphatidylserine, may exhibit prolonged contrast-generating residence time in the liver following intravenous administration.

Abstract: Ultrasonic visualization of a subject, particularly of perfusion in the myocardium and other tissues, is performed using novel gas-containing contrast agent preparations which promote controllable and temporary growth of the gas phase in vivo following administration and can therefore act as deposited perfusion tracers. The preparations include a coadministerable composition comprising a diffusible component capable of inward diffusion into the dispersed gas phase to promote temporary growth thereof. In cardiac perfusion imaging the preparations may advantageously be coadministered with vasodilator drugs such as adenosine in order to enhance the differences in return signal intensity from normal and hypoperfused myocardial tissue respectively.

Abstract: The stability of phospholipid compositions is enhanced by the inclusion of a buffer system comprising ammonia or a water soluble amine having a pH at 15° C. of less than or equal to 9.5.

Abstract: A method of measuring tissue perfusion in a human or non-human animal subject which comprises administering an effective amount of an ultrasound contrast agent to said subject, irradiating tissue in a target region with at least one pulse of ultrasound having energy sufficient to destroy or discernibly modify the echogenic properties of substantially all contrast agent in said target region, and ultrasonically detecting and quantifying the rate of flow of either further contrast agent into said target region or modified contrast agent out of said target region.