Ge Healthcare As

Amersham Health As

Ge Healthcare Limited

Ingrid Henriksen

Torgrim Engell

Anne Kjersti Fahlvik

Steven Michael Fairway

Vera Kasparkova

Per Christian Sontum

Ole Johannes Tokerud

Arnfinn Andersen

Tore Omtveit

Svein Kvale

Liv Ingrid Odegardstuen

David Amersham Plc Mcgill

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.

Lipid sterilization method

Method and apparatus for continuous infusion to a subject of dispersions in which the dispersed phase is susceptible to flotation or sedimentation. The dispersion is controllably delivered from an upper or lower extremity of an essentially vertically positioned delivery vessel, e.g. syringe, and is then admixed with flushing medium, e.g. from infusion minibag, prior to administration to the subject. Vertical positioning of the delivery device maximises the distance through which flotation or sedimentation may occur, thereby substantially reducing the effects of separation over a given period of time compared to use of a corresponding horizontal delivery vessel such as a syringe placed in a conventional syringe driver.

Administering a gravity segregation dispersion by continuous infusion

The invention provides a process for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of gas-containing vesicles the membranes whereof comprise an amphiphilic membrane-forming material, said process comprising: (i) generating a liquid dispersion of gas-containing vesicles from a mixture comprising an amphiphilic membrane forming material; (ii) lyophilizing a liquid dispersion of said gas-containing vesicles; (iii) reconstituting the lyophilized product of step (ii) with a sterile aqueous liquid to produce an aqueous dispersion of gas-containing vesicles; and (iv) treating the aqueous dispersion product of step (iii) or the lyophilized product of step (ii) to produce a substantially aggregate-free sterile aqueous dispersion of gas-containing vesicles.

Process for preparing contrast agents

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Oslo, Norway

Ingrid Henriksen