METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGING ABDOMINAL AORTA AND AORTIC ANEURYSMS

• US 20100174175A1
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin R. Prince
• Original Assignee: Martin R. Prince
• Inventors: Prince, Martin R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/420
• 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

Abstract

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 abdominal aortic aneurysm in a subject, comprising:

administering magnetic resonance contrast agent to the subject;

then

obtaining coronal 3D spoiled gradient echo imaging data from a coronal volume centered on the subject'"'"'s abdominal aorta, wherein;

the coronal volume is positioned with;

a top edge at the subject'"'"'s diaphragm just below the subject'"'"'s heart; and

a front edge anterior to;

the subject'"'"'s pre-aortic left renal vein where it passes under the subject'"'"'s superior mesenteric artery; and

the subject'"'"'s common femoral arteries at the level of the subject'"'"'s femoral heads;

such that an anterior margin of the aneurysm is excluded from the coronal volume; and

imaging data which is representative of a center of k-space is obtained when a concentration of the contrast agent in the abdominal aorta is substantially higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins adjacent to the aorta.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining a sagittal T1-weighted spin echo localizing image, landmarked just below the subject'"'"'s xyphoid, before administering the contrast agent.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising acquiring 6 to 8 contiguous, sagittal 2D time-of-flight, spoiled, gradient echo images, immediately after obtaining the coronal 3D spoiled gradient echo imaging data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each sagittal image is obtained during suspended respiration of 7 seconds per breath hold.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising acquiring axial 2D time-of-flight gradient echo images immediately after obtaining the sagittal images, the axial images extending from above the celiac trunk to below the aneurysm.

6. An infusion apparatus for infusing a magnetic resonance contrast agent into a vein of a patient, during collection of image data by a magnetic resonance imaging unit, to enhance a magnetic resonance image of an artery of the patient, the infusion apparatus comprising a pump, the pump being spring-loaded to deliver a spring force of 20-30 pounds, the pump adapted to receive the magnetic resonance contrast agent and adapted to administer the contrast agent to the patient, the pump including means for controlling the rate of infusion of the magnetic resonance contrast agent into the vein, and means for matching the injection rate with the mapping of K space such that a maximum rate of infusion temporally correlates with the collection of image data which corresponds to a center of k-space.