An improved system and method of endobronchial imaging of lung nodules comprises the introduction of a perfluorocarbon (PFC) liquid into pulmonary passages of the lungs, the introduction of which enables better coupling between an endobronchial ultrasonic imaging system and a target tissue site within the pulmonary passages of the lungs, the improved coupling between the ultrasonic imaging system and a target tissue site being imparted by the removal (at least in part) the air interface present between the ultrasonic imaging system and the surface of the target tissue site. Furthermore, the unique properties of perfluorocarbon liquids (for example, the properties of superb biocompatibility, high affinity for dissolving oxygen, and extremely low surface tension) further position these substances to be particularly well-suited for this application.

The invention discloses a recombinant protein (P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 and Neural Retina-specific Leucine Zipper) PSGL-1-NRL chimeric protein comprising a Selectin Binding domain and a non-covalent dimerization domain, which is a leucine zipper and is more preferably the leucine zipper domain of the human or mouse Neural Retina-specific Leucine Zipper. The chimeric protein further comprises a covalent dimerization domain with at least one cysteine suitable to form a disulfide bridge with another chimeric protein to form a homodimer. In the chimeric protein, the PSGL-1 domain corresponds to the extracellular region of Human PSGL-1 and is more preferably the selectin binding region of the mature protein. The chimeric protein is correctly post-translationally modified and is efficiently expressed in a mammalian system. It is sulfated, O-linked glycosylated and sialylated and binds P, E and L selectin, allowing in vivo and in vitro targeting for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

An apparatus can be used to generate acoustic imaging pulse sequences and receive corresponding echoes elicited by the acoustic imaging pulse sequences. An acoustic radiation force (ARF) pulse sequence can be generated to agitate a contrast medium in a tissue region between the acoustic imaging pulse sequences. A decorrelation between images corresponding to the received echoes can be determined. A weighting map can be applied to an image to weight a region of the image corresponding to a spatial location of the contrast medium using the determined decorrelation. In an example, the receiving of corresponding echoes elicited by the acoustic imaging pulse sequences can include receiving acoustic energy having a range of frequencies offset from a fundamental frequency associated with the acoustic imaging pulse sequences. An acoustic imaging pulse sequence can include a pulse having an inverted amplitude envelope with respect to another pulse included in the sequence.

A platinum sulfide protein nanoparticle having near-infrared photothermal effect and multi-modal imaging function, a preparation method therefor and an application thereof. The platinum sulfide nanoparticle having near-infrared photothermal effect and multi-modal imaging function is prepared in aqueous phase by means of formulation screening and process limitation. The nanoparticle has an ultra-small particle size and good stability as well as tumor targeting and photothermal effects and integrates functions of near-infrared imaging, CT imaging, and thermal imaging, so as to achieve high sensitivity, high resolution, and precise positioning of tumors, and to produce high-efficiency photothermal effects under the excitation of near-infrared light to kill tumor cells by thermal ablation, thereby achieving the purpose of efficient, safe, visual, and accurate treatment of tumors. The nanoparticle has the potential for further development and clinical application.

The present invention relates to the preparation of a series of chiral DOTA, DO3A, DO2A, DO1A, cyclen and their metal complexes, which display properties superior to those of previous DOTA-based compounds, and hence are potentially valuable as a platform for diagnostic applications. The chiral DOTAs reveal a high abundance of twisted square antiprism (TSA) geometry favoring them to be used as potential MRI contrast agents, whereas their rapid labelling properties at mild conditions make them excellent candidates for use as radiometal chelators.

Disclosed are methods of delivering an agent to the lumen of the vas deferens under guidance of ultrasound imaging. The methods include vas-occlusive contraception in which the vas deferens is non-surgically isolated and an occlusive substance is percutaneously administered into the lumen of the vas deferens under ultrasound. Also disclosed are methods of reversal of vas-occlusive contraception and methods of delivering an agent to the lumen of the vas deferens. Also disclosed are compositions for use in the methods of the invention.

Provided herein are improved methods for preparing phospholipid formulations including phospholipid UCA formulations.

A photoacoustic flow cytometry (PAFC) device for the in vivo detection of cells circulating in blood or lymphatic vessels is described. Ultrasound transducers attached to the skin of an organism detect the photoacoustic ultrasound waves emitted by target objects in response to their illumination by at least one pulse of laser energy delivered using at least one wavelength. The wavelengths of the laser light pulse may be varied to optimize the absorption of the laser energy by the target object. Target objects detected by the device may be unlabelled biological cells or cell products, contrast agents, or biological cells labeled with one or more contrast agents.

A photoacoustic flow cytometry (PAFC) device for the in vivo detection of cells circulating in blood or lymphatic vessels is described. Ultrasound transducers attached to the skin of an organism detect the photoacoustic ultrasound waves emitted by target objects in response to their illumination by at least one pulse of laser energy delivered using at least one wavelength. The wavelengths of the laser light pulse may be varied to optimize the absorption of the laser energy by the target object. Target objects detected by the device may be unlabelled biological cells or cell products, contrast agents, or biological cells labeled with one or more contrast agents.

Systems, methods, and devices are described to synthesize gas-filled microbubbles using a continuous flow chamber with a reaction volume and a sonicator positioned therein, by flowing a lipid solution at a first flow rate and gas at a first pressure into the reaction volume while ultrasonically agitating an interface between the lipid solution and the gas in the reaction volume using the sonicator member to generate a solution of gas-filled microbubbles, which solution can be concentrated to obtain a concentrated solution of microbubbles containing at least 23% of the core gas by volume.