Appeal No. 2000-0827
Application 08/466,104
are stabilized by human protein, the gas comprising
perfluorobutane.
54. Biocompatible ultrasound contrast media
comprising a solution in which microbubbles of a gas
are stabilized by human protein, the gas comprising
perfluoropentane.
As explained below, the examiner contends that the application as
filed does not disclose contrast agents in which human protein is
used to stabilize the three claimed gases.
B. Appellant's disclosure
The specification explains that
[t]his invention relates to agents that enhance
the contrast in an ultrasound image generated for use
in medical diagnosis. The contrast-enhancing media
disclosed herein are comprised of extremely small gas
bubbles which are present in a solution that is infused
into the body during or just before an ultrasound image
is generated.
Specification at 1, ll. 11-17. The invention is further
described as directed to the selection of particular gases for
forming free gas (i.e., unencapsulated) microbubbles:
This invention is also directed to a method for
enhancing such images by selecting gases from which a
collection of free gas microbubbles can be prepared
that have novel and superior properties. These
microbubbles, composed of the gases whose selection is
enabled by the process of this invention, may be
extremely small in size and yet survive in the
bloodstream long enough to allow contrast-enhanced
imaging of parts of the cardiovascular system,
peripheral vascular system, and vital organs previously
believed to be inaccessible to free gas microbubbles.
Id. at 1, ll. 17-28.
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