Container with multi-phase composition for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications

Ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging technique which provides a number of significant advantages over other diagnostic methodology. Unlike imaging techniques such as nuclear medicine and X-rays, ultrasound does not expose the patient to the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Moreover, ultrasound is relatively-inexpensive and can be conducted as a portable examination. A container comprising an aqueous lipid suspension and a gaseous phase substantially separate from the aqueous stabilizing phase, useful in diagnostic imaging such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging and in therapeutic applications, is disclosed.