Abstract: The invention relates to diagnostic compositions comprising metal oxide particles, especially iron oxide particles, which are coated with binding peptides. The binding peptides bind with high affinity to the metal oxide particles so that the peptide-coated metal oxide particles are suitable for medical applications, for example as contrast media for magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to complexes which contain magnetic iron oxide particles in a pharmaceutically acceptable shell, said particles having a diameter of 20 nm to 1 ?m with an overall particle diameter/core diameter ratio of less than 6, and to the use of these complexes in magnetic particle imaging (MPI). Particular preference is given to the use of these compositions in examining the gastrointestinal tract, the vascular system of the heart and cranial components, in the diagnosis of arteriosclerosis, infarctions, and tumors and metastases, for example of the lymphatic system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to complexes which contain polycrystalline magnetic iron oxide particles in a pharmaceutically acceptable shell, and to the use of these compositions in magnetic particle imaging (MPI). Particular preference is given to the use of these compositions in examining the gastrointestinal tract, the vascular system of the heart and cranial components, in the diagnosis of arteriosclerosis, infarctions, and tumors and metastases, for example of the lymphatic system.

Abstract: In the quantification of bodies, especially bubbles, in ultrasonic diagnosis, the problem exists that the concentration of bodies, especially bubbles, is often so high that the image data that is obtained relative to the visualization becomes saturated, such that a quantification is impossible. To solve this problem, it is proposed that the bodies that are contained in the sectional layers of an object under examination first be excited by means of ultrasound to produce characteristic signals and to pick up these signals, to form data sets from the signals, to convert the data sets into an image of the body arrangement in the object under examination and to determine the number of bodies therefrom, whereby at least two ultrasonic signal sets from overlapping sectional layers in the object under examination are picked up.

Abstract: In the quantification of bodies, especially bubbles, in ultrasonic diagnosis, the problem exists that the concentration of bodies, especially bubbles, is often so high that the image data that is obtained relative to the visualization becomes saturated, such that a quantification is impossible. To solve this problem, it is proposed that the bodies that are contained in the sectional layers of an object under examination first be excited by means of ultrasound to produce characteristic signals and to pick up these signals, to form data sets from the signals, to convert the data sets into an image of the body arrangement in the object under examination and to determine the number of bodies therefrom, whereby at least two ultrasonic signal sets from overlapping sectional layers in the object under examination are picked up.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-stage method for producing gas-filled microcapsules. In one stage of the method, the substance that forms the coat is polymerized. The microcapsules are formed in a physically and/or temporally separate stage, by means of a structuring process. The polymerization is carried out with moderate stirring, while the microcapsules are structured in dispersing conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to gas-filled microcapsules that consist of functionalized polyalkylcyanoacrylates that are produced by copolymerization of one or more alkylcyanoacrylates with a functional monomer and/or by partial side-chain hydrolysis of a polyalkylcyanoacrylate, as well as a process for the production of gas-filled microcapsules and their use for ultrasound diagnosis.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a multi-stage process for the production of narrowly-distributed gas-filled microcapsules. In one process step, polymerization of the shell-shaping substance(s) takes place, and in a process step that is separated from it in space and/or time, the formation of the microcapsules by a build-up process takes place. The build-up process is carried out by low-energy defined gas input of the gas that is to be encapsulated with the aid of a porous membrane that has small defined pore openings.