It´s a well-known fact among radiologists that air provides perfect negative contrast. This is utilized in imaging the colon, which is relatively easy to fill up with air. However, introducing air into the small intestine is much more complex. Our solution is a patented, drinkable, food-based foam, primarily consisting of egg white and water, where air bubbles of a specific size remain stable as the foam passes through the stomach and fills up the small intestine to the last part. Lumentin®44 and the dispenser used for its preparation result from more than a decade of advanced R&D involving expertise in radiology, gastroenterology, food technology, physical chemistry, and medical device engineering.
Lumentin®44 food-based contrast agent provides CT images with MRI quality.
Lumentin® is a per-oral HU*-negative contrast agent that allows the small bowel void to be displayed in black against the mucosa, which is displayed in white. For the first time, MRI-quality images can be obtained by using the faster and cheaper CT imaging technology. The images below show the difference in contrast between Lumentin®44 and today’s dominating contrast agents.
Lumentin
Negative contrast
The black background provided by Lumentin highlights the bowel wall and mucosal lining in bright contrast
Moviprep Neutral contrast agent
Omnipaque Positive contrast
The lack of contrast in the images makes it difficult to discern the lining clearly
Lumentin®44 means enhanced efficacy and elevated patient acceptance
Lumentin is conveniently delivered in powder doses and prepared at the clinic
Improves diagnostic quality
Lumentin®44 provides outstanding air-saturated, water-based contrast facilitating both the demarcation of the small intestine and the detection of lesions in the bowel wall.
Saves time and resources
Lumentin®44 enables using a CT scanner instead of the considerably more expensive and time-consuming MRI technology. Time savings are at least 50 percent during the examination itself.
Gentle to the patient
Lumentin®44 is food-based, has good palatability, and a high safety profile. Allowing examinations that previously required MRI to be conducted in a CT scanner avoids much discomfort for the patient.
Increases accessibility
CT scanners are much more common and available at more healthcare facilities than MRI units, making examinations and diagnostics more
accessible, thus facilitating early diagnosis.
Easy to prepare
Lumentin®44 comes as a powder in a pouch and is mixed with water to a drinkable foam at the clinic using a semi-automatic preparation unit. Preparation is ready in minutes.
“The images are spectacular, and it was interesting that the gastroenterologists found the CT with Lumentin in general clinically more useful than the MRI.”
Giles Stevenson
MD, PhD, Radiologist, Canada
Lumentin®44 and the Hounsfield Scale
- Hounsfield units (HU) standardize grayscale in CT scans for easier interpretation
- In X-ray imaging, low-density materials like air appear black due to minimal X-ray absorption
- Increased darkness in the image enhances the detection of density differences, aiding in the identification of anatomical structures or abnormalities
Lumentin acts like air, enhancing imaging by separating the small intestines from other organs for improved diagnostics
Lumentin®44 at the clinic
Lumentin®44 is delivered as a powder, dose-packed in a pouch. The powder is mixed with water and prepared in a patented Contrast Medium Preparation and Dispensing Unit (CMPDU). The process, which takes between six and seven minutes, ensures that foam with stable air bubbles of exactly the right size is produced every time.