Method for magnetic resonance imaging of the lung

• US 6,589,506 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bracco International B.V. (Bracco SPA)
• Original Assignee: Bracco International B.V. (Bracco SPA), Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique
• Inventors: Viallon, Magalie, Cremillieux, Yannick, Berthezene, Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartley, Michael G.
• Application Number:
  US09/818,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20010031242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 424/9.3, 424/9.32, 424/9.36, 424/9.361, 424/9.37, 424/9.363, 424/9.364, 424/9.365, 600/410, 600/428
• US Class Current: 424/9.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5601 involving use of a contrast agent for contrast manipulation, e.g. a paramagnetic, super-paramagnetic, ferromagnetic or hyperpolarised contrast agent

Abstract

A method for the assessment of pulmonary ventilation and lung perfusion through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), comprising the steps of:

positioning a human subject in an MRI apparatus,

delivering a hyperpolarized noble gas to the subject by inhalation, followed by a breath-hold period, during which a bolus of a contrast agent for MRI is injected intravenously,

acquiring, during the breath-hold period, at least one MR image of the lungs prior to the bolus intravenous injection and at least one MR image thereafter.

Claims

1. A method for using a contrast agent for the assessment of the pulmonary ventilation and lung perfusion through MRI, wherein the contrast agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO), ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIO), gadolinium complexes and manganese complexes, and the method comprises:

(a) positioning a human subject in an MRI apparatus;

(b) delivering a hyperpolarized noble gas to the subject by inhalation, followed by a breath-hold period, during which a bolus of said contrast agent is injected intravenously; and

(c) acquiring, during said breath-hold period, at least one MR image of the lungs prior to said bolus intravenous injection and at least one MR image thereafter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said contrast agent comprises a suspension of SPIO or USPIO selected from the group consisting of SBPA, AMI 25, AMI 227, SHU 555A and NC100150.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said contrast agent comprises a gadolinium complex selected from the group consisting of Gd-DTPA, Gd-DOTA, Gd-HPDO3A, Gd-BOPTA, Gd-DTPA-BMA, Gadoversetamide, Gadomer-17, Gd-EOB-DTPA, Gadobutrol and MS 325.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said hyperpolarized noble gas is selected from the group consisting of ³He, ¹²⁹Xe, ¹³¹Xe, ⁸³Kr and ²¹Ne, and mixtures thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said hyperpolarized gas is ³He.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the hyperpolarized ³He is delivered to the subject in an amount of about 0.1 to about 2 liters.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the injected dose of said contrast agent is in the range of about 0.05 to about 5 mg iron/kg.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the injected dose of said contrast agent is in the range of about 0.05 to about 0.5 mmol Gd/kg.

9. A method for the assessment of pulmonary ventilation and lung perfusion through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), comprising:

(a) positioning a human subject in an MRI apparatus;

(b) delivering a hyperpolarized noble gas to the subject by inhalation, followed by a breath-hold period, during which a bolus of a contrast agent for MRI is injected intravenously; and

(c) acquiring, during said breath-hold period, at least one MR image of the lungs prior to said bolus intravenous injection and at least one MR image thereafter.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said contrast agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO), ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIO), gadolinium complexes and manganese complexes.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said hyperpolarized noble gas is selected from the group consisting of ³He, ¹²⁹Xe, ¹³¹Xe, ⁸³Kr and ²¹Ne.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said hyperpolarized noble gas is selected from the group consisting of ³He, ¹²⁹Xe, ¹³¹Xe, ⁸³Kr and ²¹Ne.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein said contrast agent comprises a suspension of SPIO or USPIO selected from the group consisting of SBPA, AMI 25, AMI 227, AMI 121, SHU 555A and NC100150.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said contrast agent comprises a gadolinium complex selected from the group consisting of Gd-DTPA, Gd-DOTA, Gd-HPDO3A, Gd-BOPTA, Gd-DTPA-BMA, Gadoversetamide, Gadomer-17, Gd-EOB-DTPA, Gadobutrol and MS 325.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein said hyperpolarized gas is ³He.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step in which Helium gas is used to manufacture the hyperpolarized ³He gas.