METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PREPARATION OF ULTRASOUND CONTRAST AGENTS
Provided herein are methods and devices for identifying and/or distinguishing UCA formulations and specifically activating such formulations to produce UCA suitable for in vivo use.
1 - 135 . (canceled)
136 . A method of using lipid-encapsulated gas microspheres for ultrasound imaging comprising:
identifying a first ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) lipid formulation requiring activation for a pre-determined period of time and/or at a pre-determined shaking rate, using a device that distinguishes between the first and a second UCA lipid formulation;
activating the first UCA lipid formulation for the pre-determined period of time and/or at the pre-determined shaking rate to form lipid-encapsulated gas microspheres;
administering the lipid-encapsulated gas microspheres to a subject; and
obtaining an ultrasound image of the subject,
wherein the first or the second UCA lipid formulation is a non-aqueous UCA lipid formulation.
137 . The method of claim 136 , wherein, based on identity of the first UCA lipid formulation, the device automatically selects the pre-determined period of time and/or the pre-determined shaking rate for activating the first UCA lipid formulation.
138 . The method of claim 137 , wherein the first UCA lipid formulation is the non-aqueous UCA lipid formulation.
139 . The method of claim 138 , wherein the non-aqueous UCA lipid formulation comprises DPPA, DPPC and MPEG5000-DPPE and less than 5% water (w/w).
140 . The method of claim 138 , wherein the pre-determined period of time is about 75 seconds and the pre-determined shaking rate is about 4530 shaking motions per minute.
141 . The method of claim 137 , wherein the first UCA lipid formulation is an aqueous UCA lipid formulation.
142 . The method of claim 141 , wherein the aqueous UCA lipid formulation comprises DPPC.
143 . The method of claim 142 , wherein the aqueous UCA lipid formulation comprises MPEG5000-DPPE.
144 . The method of claim 141 , wherein the pre-determined period of time is about 45 seconds and the pre-determined shaking rate is about 4530 shaking motions per minute.
145 . The method of claim 136 , wherein the device comprises a holder capable of holding a first container comprising the first UCA lipid formulation and incapable of holding a second container comprising the second UCA lipid formulation.
146 . The method of claim 136 , wherein the device distinguishes the first UCA lipid formulation from the second UCA lipid formulation based on a unique identifier.
147 . The method of claim 136 , wherein the device imparts a reciprocating motion, a revolution, or a figure of 8 motion to the first UCA lipid formulation.
148 . A device that identifies and activates a first ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) lipid formulation for a pre-determined period of time and/or at a pre-determined shaking rate, and that distinguishes between the first and a second UCA lipid formulation, wherein the first or second UCA lipid formulation is a non-aqueous UCA lipid formulation.
149 . The device of claim 148 , wherein, based on identity of the first UCA lipid formulation, the device automatically selects the pre-determined period of time and/or the pre-determined shaking rate for activating the first UCA lipid formulation.
150 . The device of claim 149 , wherein when the first UCA lipid formulation is identified as a non-aqueous UCA lipid formulation, the device automatically selects about 75 seconds and/or about 4350 shaking motions per minute for activating the first UCA lipid formulation.
151 . The device of claim 149 , wherein when the first UCA lipid formulation is identified as an aqueous UCA lipid formulation, the device automatically selects about 45 seconds and/or about 4350 shaking motions per minute for activating the first UCA lipid formulation.
152 . The device of claim 148 , wherein the device imparts a reciprocating motion, a revolution, or a figure of 8 motion to the first UCA lipid formulation.
153 . The device of claim 148 , wherein the device comprises a holder capable of holding a first container comprising the first UCA lipid formulation and incapable of holding a second container comprising the second UCA lipid formulation.
154 . The device of claim 148 , wherein the device distinguishes the first UCA lipid formulation from the second UCA lipid formulation based on a unique identifier.
155 . The device of claim 148 , wherein the device comprises a detector that distinguishes the first UCA lipid formulation from the second UCA lipid formulation.
156 . The device of claim 155 , wherein the detector is an RFID reader.
157 . The device of claim 155 , wherein the detector is capable of reading an RFID tag on a container comprising either the first or the second UCA lipid formulation.
158 . The device of claim 155 , wherein the detector is a barcode scanner.
159 . The device of claim 155 , wherein the detector is a color scanner.