The France-based Guerbet Group is highly specialized in contrast media for medical imaging. Its strategic goal is to be a key player in this market. Guerbet Group produces products for x-ray imaging, MRI, ultrasound imaging and imaging through radioactive tracers.

Patents can unintended respond with an idiosyncratic reaction to the application of contrast media. Idiosyncratic reactions to contrast agents start usually within 20 minutes after injection and occur more frequently in patients 20 to 40 years old.
Idiosyncratic reactions may or may not be dependent on the amount of dose injected, the speed of injection, the mode of injection and the radiographic procedure.


See also Adverse Reaction and Anaphylactoid Reaction.

Image quality is an important value of all radiographic imaging procedures. Accurate measures of both image quality and patient radiation risk are needed for effective optimization of diagnostic imaging. Images are acquired for specific purposes, and the result depends on how well this task is performed. The imaging performance is mainly influenced by the imaging procedure, examined object, contrast agents, imaging system, electronic data processing, display, maintenance and the operator. Spatial resolution (sharpness), contrast resolution and sensitivity, artifacts and noise are indicators of image quality.
A high image contrast provides the discrimination between tissues of different densities.
The image resolution states the distinct visibility of linear structures, masses and calcifications.
Noise and artifacts degrade the image quality. In computed tomography (CT), high spatial resolution improves the visibility of small details, but results in increased noise. Increased noise reduces the low contrast detectability. Noise can be reduced by the use of large voxels, increased radiation dose, or an additional smoothing filter, but this type of filter increases blurring.
An image acquisition technique taking these facts into account maximizes the received information content and minimizes the radiation risk or keeps it at a low level.

See also As Low As Reasonably Achievable.

Ionic dimers are used as x-ray contrast agents. They are formed by joining 2 ionic monomers and eliminating 1 carboxyl group and contain 6 iodine atoms for every 2 particles in solution (CM ratio=3).
Ionic dimers have an intermediate osmolarity, intermediate viscosity and an intermediate hydrophilicity between that of ionic and nonionic monomers. The only commercially available ionic dimer is ioxaglate (Hexabrix). Ioxaglate is used primarily for peripheral arteriography.

Mallinckrodt, a Tyco Healthcare company makes and distributes products for respiratory care; bulk and dosage pharmaceuticals, primarily for pain relief and addiction therapy; and imaging agents for magnetic resonance, ultrasound, x-ray, and nuclear medicine applications. With worldwide manufacturing and distribution facilities, as well as worldwide sales offices, Mallinckrodt sells its products worldwide.

In June 2007 Tyco International Ltd. completed the separation of its healthcare business, which is named Covidien. Mallinckrodt, Inc. is now part of Covidien Ltd.