Improving ultrasounds with innovative contrast agent

LAY LANGUAGE
Ultrasounds allows medical professionals to make pictures inside your body – tissues, organs, and other structures – without invasive surgery. But the traditional imaging agent that makes those pictures possible by visualizing the structures has flaws. Purdue University researchers have developed a new ultrasound imaging agent to address those flaws.

PROBLEM
Ultrasounds create pictures inside a person’s body without invasive surgery. But the traditional imaging agent that visualizes structures in the body doesn’t last long and body heat can make the agent unstable.

SOLUTION
Purdue University researchers have created a patented ultrasound imaging agent that lasts in the body for days, which can eliminate the need for repeated use of imaging agents. The Purdue-created imaging agent is activated by heating it outside the body, ensuring that it remains stable when administered. The Purdue-created imaging agent is made of nanodroplets, which means it can reach cells where traditional agents cannot produce high-resolution images.

The nanodroplet imaging agent also can be labeled for biomedical applications including detecting tumors and tracking cells.

PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR
Luis Solorio, College of Engineering

INNOVATION DISCLOSURE
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LICENSING CONTACTS
Email: otcip@prf.org

MEDIA CONTACT
Email: Steve Martin // sgmartin@prf.org