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Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7, 2011; 17(1): 42-48
Published online Jan 7, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i1.42
Table 1 Intravenous contrast agents, their composition and manufacturers[10,13]
Contrast agentCompositionManufacturer
First generation
Albunex5% human albumin with stabilized microbubblesMallinckrodt
Echovist (SHU 454)Standardized microbubbles with galactose shellSchering
Levovist (SHU 508)Stabilized, standardized microbubbles with galactose, 0.1% palmitic acid shellSchering
MyomapAlbumin shellQuadrant
QuantisonAlbumin shellQuadrant
SonavistCyanoacrylate shellSchering
SonazoidC4F10 with lipid stabilizer shellGE healthcare
Second generation
Definity/luminityC3F8 with lipid stabilizer shellBristol–myers squibb medical imaging
Imagent-imavistC6H14 with lipid stabilizer shellAlliance
OptisonC3F8 with denatured human albumin shellGE healthcare
Bisphere/cardiospherePolylactide-coglycolide shell with albumin overcoat-
SonoVue (BR1, Bracco, Italy)SF6 gas with lipid stabilizer shellBracco
AI700/imagifyC4F10 gas core stabilized with polymer shellAcusphere
Third generation
EchogenDodecafluoropentane (DDFP) liquid in phase shift colloid emulsionSonus pharmaceuticals