Method and apparatus for imaging abdominal aorta and aortic aneurysms

• US 20010027265A1
• Filed: 04/07/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin R. Prince
• Original Assignee: Martin R. Prince
• Inventors: Prince, Martin R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,662,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/201 Assessing renal or kidney functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/416 the spleen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/18 characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, microcapsules, liposomes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/281 Means for the use of in vitro contrast agents G01R33/282 takes precedence; involving use of a contrast agent in MR imaging G01R33/5601; in vivo contrast agents A61K49/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5619 by temporal sharing of data, e.g. keyhole, block regional interpolation scheme for k-Space [BRISK]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/563 of moving material, e.g. flow contrast angiography
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/56308 Characterization of motion or flow; Dynamic imaging

Abstract

The present invention is a technique and apparatus for acquiring anatomic information used in diagnosing and characterizing abdominal aortic aneurismal disease and the like. This technique provides anatomic information, in the form of images, using a combination of a plurality of magnetic resonance angiography sequences, including a spin-echo and four contrast enhanced (e.g., gadolinium) magnetic resonance angiography sequences. The anatomic images may be used in, for example, pre-operative, operative and post-operative evaluation of aortic pathology, including aneurysms, atherosclerosis, and occlusive disease of branch vessels such as the renal arteries. The gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography provides sufficient anatomic detail to detect aneurysms and all relevant major branch vessel abnormalities seen at angiography operation. This technique and apparatus allows for imaging the aorta at a fraction of the cost of conventional aortography and without the risks of arterial catheterization or iodinated contrast.

Claims

1. A method of imaging an aorta and aortic aneurysm of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, comprising,

performing a first imaging sequence to identify the location of the aneurysm;

performing a second imaging sequence to image the aorta and extent of the aortic aneurysm, including,

collecting image data; and

administering magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient while collecting image data, by intravenous infusion, at a rate of infusion sufficient to provide a substantially elevated concentration of the contrast agent in the artery during collection of image data representative of a center of k-space.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein the first imaging sequence is a sagittal T1 weighted sequence.

3. The method of

claim 1

wherein the second imaging sequence is a plurality of images constructed from a dynamic 3D volume.

4. The method of

claim 3

wherein the plurality of images include a plurality of coronal, sagittal or oblique projections.

5. The method of

claim 1

further including the step of performing at least a third imaging sequence for imaging the size of the aortic aneurysm.

6. The method of

claim 5

further including the step of performing a fourth imaging sequence for imaging the size of the aortic aneurysm wherein the third and fourth imaging sequences are a plurality of sagittal and axial 2D time-of-flight images.

8. The method of

claim 1

further including performing a fifth imaging sequence for imaging right renal arteries.

9. The method of

claim 8

wherein the step of performing the fifth imaging sequence further includes collecting phase contrast images.

7. The method of claim S wherein the third imaging sequence is a plurality of sagittal or axial 2D time-of-flight images and further includes collecting imaging data while the patient suspends respiration.

10. A method of imaging aorta or aortic aneurysm using magnetic resonance imaging, comprising,

performing a first imaging sequence to identify the location of the aneurysm;

performing a second imaging sequence to image the aorta and extent of the aortic aneurysm, including,

collecting image data; and

administering magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient prior to collecting image data, by intravenous infusion, at a rate of infusion sufficient to provide a substantially elevated concentration of the contrast agent in the artery during collection of image data representative of a center of k-space.

11. The method of

claim 10

wherein the first imaging sequence is a sagittal T1 weighted sequence.

12. The method of

claim 10

wherein the second imaging sequence is a plurality of images constructed from a 3D volume.

13. The method of

claim 12

wherein the plurality of images include a plurality of coronal, sagittal or oblique projections.

14. The method of

claim 10

further including the step of performing at least a third imaging sequence for imaging the size of the aortic aneurysm.

15. The method of

claim 14

further including the step of performing a fourth imaging sequence for imaging the size of the aortic aneurysm wherein the third and fourth imaging sequences are a plurality of sagittal and axial 2D time-of-flight images.

16. The method of

claim 14

wherein the third imaging sequence is a plurality of sagittal or axial 2D time-of-flight images and further includes collecting imaging data while the patient suspends respiration.

17. The method of

claim 10

further including performing a fifth imaging sequence for imaging right renal arteries.

18. The method of

claim 17

wherein the step of performing the fifth imaging sequence further includes collecting phase contrast images.

19. A method of imaging portions of the aorta or its major branches in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, comprising,

performing a first imaging sequence to identify the location of the aorta;

performing a second imaging sequence to image the lumen of the aorta, including,

collecting image data representative of the center of k-space while the patient suspends respiration; and

administering magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient, by intravenous infusion, at a rate of infusion sufficient to provide a substantially elevated concentration of the contrast agent in the artery during collection of image data representative of a center of k-space.

20. The method of

claim 19

wherein the first imaging sequence is a sagittal T1 weighted sequence.

21. The method of

claim 19

wherein the second imaging sequence is a 3D gradient echo volume.

22. The method of

claim 19

further including performing a third imaging sequence for collecting 3D phase contrast images following the step of administering magnetic resonance contrast agent.

23. A method of imaging aorta or renal arteries of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, comprising,

performing a first imaging sequence to identify the location of the aorta and aorta branch vessels;

performing a second imaging sequence to image the lumen of the aorta, including,

collecting image data; and

administering magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient prior to or while collecting image data, by intravenous infusion, at a rate of infusion sufficient to provide a substantially elevated concentration of the contrast agent in the artery during collection of image data representative of a center of k-space.

24. The method of

claim 23

wherein the step of performing the second imaging sequence includes collecting at least a portion of the image data while the patient suspends respiration.

25. The method of

claim 23

wherein the step of performing the second imaging sequence includes collecting at least a portion of the image data corresponding to the center of k-space while the patient suspends respiration.

26. The method of

claim 23

further including the step of performing at least a third imaging sequence for imaging the size of the aortic aneurysm, after the second imaging sequence.