Method for imaging malignant tumors using carbon 13 with MRI

• US 6,521,210 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2000
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyo Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Archimedes Technology Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Ohkawa, Tihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartley, Michael G.
• Application Number:
  US09/736,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20020071808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 424/9.3, 424/9.341, 424/9.1, 424/1.81, 436/173
• US Class Current: 424/9.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/06 Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/24 Nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance or other spin effects or mass spectrometry

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a method for imaging a malignancy in a patient, in situ, requires feeding the patient a nutrient that is enriched with carbon 13 (¹³C). This feeding step can be accomplished either orally or intravenously, and can last for approximately 24 hours. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques are then used on the patient with rf energy that is tuned to the nuclear resonance of ¹³C. An image of selected tissue in the patient is thereby created, and this image is thereafter evaluated for any concentrations of ¹³C that will delineate a malignancy. If present, the malignancy can then be treated. A subsequent (feeding)/(MRI imaging) procedure may be performed. The image that is created in this subsequent procedure can then be compared with the image that was created in the first procedure to determine the efficacy of the treatment, or to determine a growth rate for the malignancy.

Claims

1. A method for identifying rapidly dividing cells of a malignancy in situ tissue of a patient which comprises the steps of:

providing a nutrient enriched with ¹³C;

administering said nutrient to the patient for use by in situ tissue during cell division to incorporate said ¹³C into cells of the in situ tissue;

positioning the in situ tissue in a magnetic field;

radiating the in situ tissue in the magnetic field with rf energy, the rf energy being tuned for nuclear resonance with ¹³C to create an image of the in situ tissue; and

evaluating the image for concentrations of ¹³C therein to identify the rapidly dividing cells.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said enriching step, said administering step, and said evaluating step collectively establish a first procedure, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

performing a subsequent procedure, said subsequent procedure being substantially the same as said first procedure; and

comparing the concentration of ¹³C in said first procedure with the concentration of ¹³C in said subsequent procedure to determine the growth rate of the rapidly dividing cells in the in situ tissue.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said enriching step, said administering step, and said evaluating step collectively establish a first procedure, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

treating the malignancy indicated by the rapidly dividing cells;

performing a subsequent procedure, said subsequent procedure being substantially the same as said first procedure; and

comparing the concentration of ¹³C in the selected tissue in said first procedure with the concentration of ¹³C in the selected tissue in said subsequent procedure to determine an efficacy of said treating step.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said nutrient contains glucose when the target tissue is non fatty.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said nutrient contains an amino acid when the target tissue is fatty.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said administering step is accomplished orally.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said administering step is accomplished intravenously.