Methods for detecting blood perfusion variations by magnetic resonance imaging
First Claim
1. A method of detecting regions of blood flow abnormality or variation in a human or non-human body, said method comprising the steps of (1) administering into the cardiovascular system of said body a contrast enhancing amount of a paramagnetic metal containing magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, (2) subjecting said body to a magnetic resonance imaging procedure and obtaining a series of temporally spaced magnetic resonance signals or images from regions in at least a part of said body into which said agent passes, (3) detecting temporal variations in said signals or images, and (4) identifying from said temporal variations in said signals or images regions of abnormal or modified blood flow in said body and providing a quantitative indication of the degree of blood flow abnormality or modification therein.
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Abstract
The invention provides a method of detecting blood flow abnormality or variation in a human or non-human body, said method comprising administering into the cardiovascular system of a said body a contrast enhancing amount of an intravascular paramagnetic metal containing magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, subject said body to a magnetic resonance imaging procedure capable of generating from magnetic resonance signals from said body a series of temporally spaced images of at least a part of said body into which said agent passes, and detecting temporal variations in said signals or images whereby to identify regions of abnormal or modified blood flow in said body and to indicate the degree of blood flow abnormality or modification therein.
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Citations
36 Claims
- 1. A method of detecting regions of blood flow abnormality or variation in a human or non-human body, said method comprising the steps of (1) administering into the cardiovascular system of said body a contrast enhancing amount of a paramagnetic metal containing magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, (2) subjecting said body to a magnetic resonance imaging procedure and obtaining a series of temporally spaced magnetic resonance signals or images from regions in at least a part of said body into which said agent passes, (3) detecting temporal variations in said signals or images, and (4) identifying from said temporal variations in said signals or images regions of abnormal or modified blood flow in said body and providing a quantitative indication of the degree of blood flow abnormality or modification therein.
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2. A method of detecting and quantitatively evaluating the severity and spatial extent of ischemic regions in a human or non-human body, said method comprising the steps of (1) administering into the cardiovascular system of said body a contrast enhancing amount of a paramagnetic metal containing magnetic susceptibility magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, (2) subjecting said body to a magnetic resonance imaging procedure and obtaining a series of temporally spaced magnetic resonance signals or images from regions in at least a part of said body into which said agent passes, (3) detecting temporal variations in said signals or images, and (4) detecting from said temporal variations in said signals or images ischemic tissue and providing a quantitative and spatial indication of the degree of blood perfusion deficit therein.
Specification