Methods for ultrasound imaging involving the use of a contrast agent and multiple images and processing of same
First Claim
1. A method for providing an image of an internal region of a patient comprising (a) administering to the patient a contrast agent which comprises, in an aqueous carrier, a lipid, protein or polymer, and a gas, and (b) scanning the patient using ultrasound imaging to obtain a visible image of the region, wherein said scanning step comprises:
- (i) applying a first quantity of ultrasound energy to the patient to provide a first image;
(ii) applying within about 100 milliseconds thereafter a second quantity of ultrasound energy to the patient to provide a second image; and
(iii) processing said first and second images, wherein said processing step (iii) comprises subtracting said second image from said first image.
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Abstract
Improved methods for providing an image of an internal region of a patient. Embodiments of the invention involve the administration to the patient of a contrast agent which comprises, in an aqueous carrier, a lipid, protein, polymer or surfactant, and a gas. The patient is scanned using ultrasound imaging to obtain a visible image of the region. In embodiments of the invention, the scanning step may comprise applying a first quantity of ultrasound energy to the patient to provide a first image, followed by the application substantially immediately thereafter of a second quantity of ultrasound energy to provide a second image. The first and second images are then processed. The methods are particularly useful for obtaining on-line images of the cardiovascular region which may be employed, for example, to diagnose the presence of diseased tissue in the cardiovascular region of a patient.
470 Citations
115 Claims
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1. A method for providing an image of an internal region of a patient comprising (a) administering to the patient a contrast agent which comprises, in an aqueous carrier, a lipid, protein or polymer, and a gas, and (b) scanning the patient using ultrasound imaging to obtain a visible image of the region, wherein said scanning step comprises:
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(i) applying a first quantity of ultrasound energy to the patient to provide a first image;
(ii) applying within about 100 milliseconds thereafter a second quantity of ultrasound energy to the patient to provide a second image; and
(iii) processing said first and second images, wherein said processing step (iii) comprises subtracting said second image from said first image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114)
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115. A method for diagnosing the presence of diseased tissue in a patient comprising (a) administering to the patient a contrast agent which comprises, in an aqueous carrier, a lipid, protein or polymer, and a gas, and (b) scanning the patient using ultrasound imaging to obtain a visible image of any diseased tissue in the patient, wherein said scanning step comprises:
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(i) applying a first quantity of ultrasound energy to the patient to provide a first image;
(ii) applying within about 100 milliseconds thereafter a second quantity of ultrasound energy to the patient to provide a second image; and
(iii) processing said first and second images, wherein said processing step (iii) comprises subtracting said second image from said first image.
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeLantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. (Lantheus Holdings, Inc.)
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Original AssigneeImarx Pharmaceutical Corp. (Sycamore Entertainment Group, Inc.)
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InventorsGertz, Edward W., Fritz, Thomas A., Unger, Evan C.
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Primary Examiner(s)Hollinden, Gary E.
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Application NumberUS08/982,829Time in Patent Office1,260 DaysField of Search424/9.52, 424/9.51, 600/431US Class Current424/9.51CPC Class CodesA61K 49/223 Microbubbles, hollow micros...A61K 49/227 Liposomes, lipoprotein vesi...A61K 49/228 Host-guest complexes, clath...B82Y 5/00 Nanobiotechnology or nanome...
