The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 03, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 30, 2001
Michael Scott Hughes, Glencoe, MO (US);
William Hagen, Simpsonville, SC (US);
Brian Doty, St. Peters, MO (US);
Gordon Persaud, Lee's Summit, MO (US);
Mallinckrodt Inc., St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
A device and method for providing a suspended agent such as a contrast agent without mechanical resuspension. A volume of agent ( ) is divided into sub-volumes in a network ( ) of tubes ( ), cells ( ), sponges ( ), grooves ( ), etc. A propellant fluid ( ) flows through the network ( ) to release the suspended agent ( ). The network ( ) may be internal to a container ( ) for the propellant fluid ( ). Alternatively, the network ( ) may be adjacent an exit port ( ) of a container ( ) for the propellant fluid ( ), or may be in-line between a propellant fluid container ( ) and a patient. The invention reduces sedimentation of agents into one or a few aggregates and eliminates a mechanical mixing step. The invention thus provides a uniformly suspended agent, improving patient health and safety and increasing cost and time savings.