Claims
- 1. A method for enhancing x-ray images of body organs and tissues which comprises:
- (a) administering to a patient a diagnostically effective amount of a composition which consists essentially of apatite particles incorporating a substantially radiopaque species therein, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and (b) imaging the organs and tissues using x-ray techniques.
- 2. A method for enhancing X-ray images of body organs and tissues as defined in claim 1, wherein the substantially radiopaque species is selected from the group consisting of iodine, iodinated X-ray contrast media, and radiopaque heavy metals.
- 3. A method for enhancing X-ray images of body organs and tissues as defined in claim 1, wherein the apatite particles have a size in the range from about 5 nm to about 2 .mu.m and are used for imaging the liver or spleen.
- 4. A method for enhancing X-ray images of body organs and tissues as defined in claim 1, wherein the apatite particles have a size in the range from about 200 nm to about 50 .mu.m and are used for imaging the gastrointestinal tract.
- 5. A method for enhancing X-ray images of body organs and tissues as defined in claim 1, wherein the apatite particles include iodoapatite.
- 6. A method for enhancing X-ray images of body organs and tissues as defined in claim 1, wherein the apatite particles include a substantially radiopaque heavy metal selected group consisting of bismuth, tungsten, tantalum, hafnium, lanthanum and the lanthanides, barium, molybdenum, niobium, zirconium, and strontium.
- 7. A diagnostic composition for enhancing x-ray contrast suitable for enteral or parenteral administration to a patient, which consists essentially of:
- a diagnostically effective mount of apatite particles having a particle size In the range from about 5 nm to about 50.mu., said apatite particles incorporating therein a substantially radiopaque species; and
- a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
- 8. A diagnostic composition as defined in claim 7, wherein the substantially radiopaque species is selected from the group consisting of iodine, iodinated X-ray contrast media, and radiopaque heavy metals.
- 9. A diagnostic composition as defined in claim 7, wherein the apatite particles have a size in the range from about 5 nm to about 2 .mu.m useful for imaging the liver or spleen.
- 10. A diagnostic composition as defined in claim 7, wherein the apatite particles have a size in the range from about 200 nm to about 50 .mu.m useful for imaging the gastrointestinal tract.
- 11. A diagnostic composition as defined in claim 7, wherein the apatite particles include iodoapatite.
- 12. Iodoapatite particles having a size in the range from about 5 nm to about 50 .mu.m and incorporating a substantially radiopaque species therein, said apatite particles having a general formula Ca.sub.10 X.sub.2 (PO.sub.4).sub.6, wherein X is I or mixtures of OH and I.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a divisional of a application Ser. No. 07/948,540 filed Sep. 22, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,640, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/784,325, filed Oct. 22, 1991, abandoned, titled "Treated Apatite Particles for Medical Diagnostic Imaging," which is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
948540 |
Sep 1992 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
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784325 |
Oct 1991 |
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