Appeal No. 1999-1731
Application 08/411,815
Representative Claims
Claims 24 and 46, which are illustrative of the subject matter on appeal, read as
follows:
24. A process of preparing microcapsules, the process comprising the steps of:
(i) spray-drying a solution or dispersion of at least one wall-forming material in a
liquid carrier into a gas in order to obtain gas- or vapor-filled microcapsules by
evaporation of said liquid carrier, and
(ii) including at least one charge-altering material in or on said microcapsules to
adapt said microcapsules for selective targeting to an area of a human or animal
body. [Emphasis added.]
46. A method for generating an ultrasound image of a region of a human or animal
body comprising the steps of:
(i) introducing to said region an ultrasound contrast agent formed by
(1) spray drying a solution or dispersion of at least one wall-forming material
in a liquid carrier into a gas to obtain gas- or vapor-filled microcapsules by
evaporation of said liquid carrier; and
(2) including at least one charge-altering material in or on said
microcapsules to adapt said microcapsules for selective targeting to an
area of a human or animal body;
(ii) exposing said ultrasound contrast agent to ultrasonic energy; and
(iii) creating an image from the reflection of the ultrasonic energy by said ultrasound
contrast agent;
wherein said microcapsules selectively target the region of the human or animal body to be
imaged. [Emphasis added.]
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