Abstract: Prostate abnormalities such as cancer may be detected by ultrasonic determination of the in-flow kinetics of contrast agent-containing blood in the prostate and/or by observation of disease-related asymmetries in the the spoke-like vascular pattern of the prostate.

Abstract: Radioactive sources, preferably radioactive seeds, for use in brachytherapy comprising a radioisotope within a sealed biocompatible container, wherein at least one part of a surface of the container is roughened, shaped or otherwise treated so that it is no longer smooth. The surface treatment may enhance the ultrasound visibility of the source and/or reduce the tendency of the source to migrate once implanted in a patient's body. Preferred radioisotopes are palladium-103 and iodine-125.

Abstract: Radioactive sources, preferably radioactive seeds, for use in brachytherapy comprising a radioisotope within a sealed biocompatible container, wherein at least one part of a surface of the container is roughened, shaped or otherwise treated so that it is no longer smooth. The surface treatment may enhance the ultrasound visibility of the source and/or reduce the tendency of the source to migrate once implanted in a patient's body. Preferred radioisotopes are palladium-103 and iodine-125.

Abstract: Medical devices, wherein at least one part of the outer surface of the container is grooved, preferably with a curved groove are disclosed. The grooved outer surface is preferably substantially free from angularities. Such grooves enhance the echogenicity of the device using medical ultrasound at a greater range of angles to the ultrasound probe, thus enhancing the ultrasound visibility of the device.

Abstract: Radioactive sources, preferably radioactive seeds, for use in brachytherapy comprising a radioisotope within a sealed biocompatible container, wherein at least one part of the outer surface of the container is grooved, preferably with a curved groove. The grooved outer surface is preferably substantially free from angularities. Such grooves enhance the echogenicity of the source using medical ultrasound at a greater range of angles to the ultrasound probe, thus enhancing the ultrasound visibility of the source. Preferred radioisotopes are palladium-103 and iodine-125.

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: Prostate abnormalities such as cancer may be detected by ultrasonic determination of the in-flow kinetics of contrast agent-containing blood in the prostate and/or by observation of disease-related asymmetries in the the spoke-like vascular pattern of the prostate.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring volumes and areas using electromagnetic induction techniques. A current is generated and fed into one of two coil assemblies to induce voltage into another coil assembly to provide accurate values for volume or area.

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: Prostate abnormalities such as cancer may be detected by ultrasonic determination of the in-flow kinetics of contrast agent-containing blood in the prostate and/or by observation of disease-related asymmetries in the spoke-like vascular pattern of the prostate.

Abstract: Local aberrations in the perfusion and/or compliance of vasculated tissue may be detected by contrast agent-enhanced ultrasound imaging procedures wherein a sequence of ultrasound image data is generated in respect of a region of interest in vasculated tissue, the image data is processed to generate waveforms representative of arterial pulsatility, and these waveforms are analyzed for variations such as phase distortions which are characteristic of local aberrations in tissue perfusion and/or compliance.

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: A system and method for measuring volumes and areas using electromagnetic induction techniques. A current is generated and fed into one of two coil assemblies to induce voltage into another coil assembly to provide accurate values for volume or area.

Abstract: Radioactive sources, preferably radioactive seeds, for use in brachytherapy comprising a radioisotope within a sealed biocompatible container, wherein at least one part of a surface of the container is roughened, shaped or otherwise treated so that it is no longer smooth. The surface treatment may enhance the ultrasound visibility of the source and/or reduce the tendency of the source to migrate once implanted in a patient's body. Preferred radioisotopes are palladium-103 and iodine-125.

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.

Abstract: A method of assessing relative rates of blood flow in the coronary arteries which involves observing one or more flow parameters in respect of contrast agent-containing blood flowing in at least one coronary artery of a subject, by generating a sequence of ultrasound images of the heart in a plane at least substantially perpendicular to the cardiac axis. Ultrasound imaging techniques which may be employed include power Doppler imaging and second harmonic B-mode or power Doppler imaging.

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 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: Temporal variations in backscatter from an ultrasound contrast agent located in the vascular system and induced by movement of the scatterers are used to visualize the presence of contrast agent by determining areas where correlation between successive ultrasound images is poor. This low level of correlation from intravascular contrast agent movement permits distinction between stationary bulk tissue and moving bulk tissue since movement of the latter solid tissue scatterers is correlated.