Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparation of a composition comprising gas microbubbles. More particularly the invention relates to a process for filling of such composition into a container. The composition prepared is preferably an ultrasound contrast media composition made available in a container wherein the headspace of the container comprises the same gas as the gas of the microbubbles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for sterilisation of phospholipid suspensions, useful in the preparation of ultrasound contrast agent precursors comprising phospholipid-stabilised perfluorobutane microbubbles. The method provides sterility assurance, without undue thermal degradation of the phospholipid. The method is also amenable to commercial scale manufacture. Also provided are methods of preparing kits and ultrasound contrast agents incorporating the sterilisation method of the invention.

Abstract: A process for preparing a composition comprising encapsulated gas microbubbles, the process comprising: providing an aqueous protein solution of a heat-denaturable protein at a temperature necessary to achieve incipient denaturation; heating a gas by using heat from the heated protein solution; mixing the heated gas and the heated protein solution to obtain a gas/liquid mixture; and dispersing the gas into the protein solution by subjecting the gas/liquid mixture to mechanical shear forces to form a composition of gas microbubbles encapsulated by denatured protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for sterilisation of phospholipid suspensions, useful in the preparation of ultrasound contrast agent precursors comprising phospholipid-stabilised perfluorobutane microbubbles. The method provides sterility assurance, without undue thermal degradation of the phospholipid. The method is also amenable to commercial scale manufacture. Also provided are methods of preparing kits and ultrasound contrast agents incorporating the sterilisation method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparation of ultrasound contrast agent precursors comprising phospholipid-stabilised perfluorobutane microbubbles. The method is amenable to commercial scale manufacture, and provides more consistent vial-to-vial yields and size distribution of said microbubbles. Also provided are methods of preparing kits and ultrasound contrast agents using the method of the invention.

Abstract: A process for preparing a composition comprising encapsulated gas microbubbles, the process comprising: providing an aqueous protein solution of a heat-denaturable protein at a temperature necessary to achieve incipient denaturation; heating a gas by using heat from the heated protein solution; mixing the heated gas and the heated protein solution to obtain a gas/liquid mixture; and dispersing the gas into the protein solution by subjecting the gas/liquid mixture to mechanical shear forces to form a composition of gas microbubbles encapsulated by denatured protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparation of a composition comprising gas microbubbles. More partitularly the invention relates to a process for filling of such composition into a container. The composition prepared is preferably an ultrasound contrast media composition made available in a container wherein the headspace of the container comprises the same gas as the gas of the microbubbles.