Smoothies are barium sulfate suspensions with different flavor. The good taste improves the patient compliance. Smoothies have minor side effects such as nausea, diarrhea and bloating.
Smoothies fast transit time allows imaging the abdomen 30 min and the pelvis 90 min after application.

VoLumen® is a low density barium sulfate contrast agent especially designed for MDCT (multi-detector row CT) and PET/CT exams to mark the bowel. Volumen is useful for CT studies of the small bowel and mesenteric vessels.
Positive oral contrast media may limit the delineation between soft bowel tissues and the lumen and may cause artifacts. Water or methyl-cellulose transits very rapidly and may limit bowel distention and soft tissue differentiation. Volumen, similar to water appears hypodense (low Hounsfield values) on CT scan and can be used in conjunction with IV contrast. VoLumen's low density formulation is well-suited for computed tomography enterography.

E-Z-CAT Dry is a dry CT barium contrast powder for suspension and can be mixed and self-administered at home. This may improve examination throughput, reduces patient waiting time and help to minimize waiting room congestion. The light E-Z-Cat® Dry foil packets can also be mailed to patients in remote locations.
The oral contrast agent is well compatible with new scanner technologies and provides a fast transit time through the GI tract.

(CA) Contrast agents are used to change the imaging characteristics, resulting in additional information about anatomy, morphology or physiology of the human body. Radiocontrast agents (also called photon-based imaging agents) are used to improve the visibility of internal body structures in x-ray and CT procedures. Contrast agents are also used to increase the contrast between different tissues in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and ultrasound imaging. The ideal imaging agent provides enhanced contrast with little biological interaction.
First investigations with radiopaque materials are done shortly after the discovery of x-rays. These positive contrast agents attenuate x-rays more than body soft tissues due to their high atomic weight. Iodine and barium have been identified as suitable materials with high radiodensity and are used until today in x-ray and CT contrast agents. Iodine-based contrast agents are water-soluble and the solutions are used nearly anywhere in the body. Iodinated contrast materials are most administered intravenous, but can also be introduced intraarterial, intrathecal, oral, rectal, intravesical, or installed in body cavities. Barium sulfate is only used for opacification of the gastrointestinal tract. Negative contrast agents attenuate x-rays less than body soft tissues, for example gas.

Iodinated contrast media are differentiated in;

Intravascular iodinated contrast agents are required for a large number of x-ray and CT studies to enhance vessels and organs dependent on the blood supply. Injectable contrast agents are diluted in the bloodstream and rapidly distributed throughout the extracellular fluid. The main route of excretion is through the kidneys, related to the poor binding of the agent to serum albumin. The liver (gall bladder) and small intestine provide alternate routes of elimination particularly in patients with severe renal impairment. The use of special biliary contrast agents is suitable for gallbladder CT and cholecystograms because they are concentrated by the liver to be detectable in the hepatic bile.
The introduction of fast multi-detector row CT technology, has led to the development of optimized contrast injection techniques. The amount of contrast enhancement depends on the contrast agent characteristics, such as iodine concentration, osmolality, viscosity, and the injection protocol, such as iodine flux and iodine dose. Adverse reactions are rare and have decreased with the introduction of nonionic contrast agents.
See also Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography, Abdomen CT, Contrast Media Injector, Single-Head CT Power Injector, Multi-Head Contrast Media Injector, Syringeless CT Power Injector, CT Power Injector.

MD-Gastroview® (solution of 660 mg diatrizoate meglumine and 100 mg diatrizoate sodium Solution) is an iodinated oral contrast agent with lemon-vanilla-flavor. MD-Gastroview® is water-soluble and suitable for oral or rectal administration.
MD-Gastroview® is indicated for radiographic and CT examination of the esophagus, stomach, proximal small intestine and colon, when a barium sulfate suspension is not feasible or contraindicated.
A usual adult dose for abdominal CT is 240 mL of a solution prepared by diluting 25 mL (9.17 g iodine) to one liter with tap water. Less dilute solutions [up to 77 mL (28.26 g iodine) diluted to one liter with tap water] may be used when indicated. The dose is administered orally about 15 to 30 minutes prior to imaging in order to permit the contrast medium to reach the pelvic loops.