30 results about "Mr contrast" patented technology

A system and method for using magnetic resonance imaging to increase the accuracy of electrophysiologic procedures is disclosed. The system in its preferred embodiment provides an invasive combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter which includes an RF antenna for receiving magnetic resonance signals and diagnostic electrodes for receiving electrical potentials. The combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter is used in combination with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner to guide and provide visualization during electrophysiologic diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. The invention is particularly applicable to catheter ablation, e.g., ablation of atrial fibrillation. In embodiments which are useful for catheter ablation, the combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter may further include an ablation tip, and such embodiment may be used as an intracardiac device to both deliver energy to selected areas of tissue and visualize the resulting ablation lesions, thereby greatly simplifying production of continuous linear lesions. The invention further includes embodiments useful for guiding electrophysiologic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures other than ablation. Imaging of ablation lesions may be further enhanced by use of MR contrast agents. The antenna utilized in the combined electrophysiology and imaging catheter for receiving MR signals is preferably of the coaxial or “loopless” type. High-resolution images from the antenna may be combined with low-resolution images from surface coils of the MR scanner to produce a composite image. The invention further provides a system for eliminating the pickup of RF energy in which intracardiac wires are detuned by filtering so that they become very inefficient antennas. An RF filtering system is provided for suppressing the MR imaging signal while not attenuating the RF ablative current. Steering means may be provided for steering the invasive catheter under MR guidance. Other ablative methods can be used such as laser, ultrasound, and low temperatures.

The present invention encompasses methods, apparatus, and computer based systems for identifying benign and malignant tumors in tissues such as soft tissues and particularly breast tissue using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imagining (DCE-MRI) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DSC) imagining of the tumors. Some embodiments encompass the use of two dynamic MRI pulse sequences in intercalating mode during parenteral administration of an MR contrast substance, wherein one of said pulse sequences is optimized for spatial information and the other pulse sequence is adjusted for high temporal solution, the high-temporal dissolved sequence further comprising a double echo-collection sensitive towards both DCE and DSC for generating a number of different biomarker data such as pharmacokinetic biomarker data, descriptive DCE biomarkers and descriptive DSC biomarkers, and subsequently normalizing and comparing said data with corresponding data from corresponding benign and malign tumors, respectively.

The present invention encompasses methods, apparatus, and computer based systems for identifying benign and malignant tumors in tissues such as soft tissues and particularly breast tissue using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imagining (DCE-MRI) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DSC) imagining of the tumors. Some embodiments encompass the use of two dynamic MRI pulse sequences in intercalating mode during parenteral administration of an MR contrast substance, wherein one of said pulse sequences is optimized for spatial information and the other pulse sequence is adjusted for high temporal solution, the high-temporal dissolved sequence further comprising a double echo-collection sensitive towards both DCE and DSC for generating a number of different biomarker data such as pharmacokinetic biomarker data, descriptive DCE biomarkers and descriptive DSC biomarkers, and subsequently normalizing and comparing said data with corresponding data from corresponding benign and malign tumors, respectively.

A compound comprising a chemical combination of a photodynamic tetra-pyrrolic compound with a plurality of radionuclide element atoms such that the compound may be used to enhance MR imaging and also be used as a photodynamic compound for use in photodynamic therapy to treat hyperproliferative tissue. The preferred compounds have the structural formula: where R1, R2, R2a R3, R3a R4, R5, R5a R6, R7, R7a, and R8 cumulatively contain at least two functional groups that will complex or combine with an MR imaging enhancing element or ion. The compound is intended to include such complexes and combinations and includes the use of such compounds for MR imaging and photodynamic therapy treatment of tumors and other hyperproliferative tissue.

Off-resonance imaging uses two complementary contrast agents with the first agent (iron-oxide) particles transfected into cells which provide localized signals. The second agent is detected from a change in the off-resonance signal when present in the cells labeled by the first agent.

The present application relates to metal / radioactive metal labeled PSMA inhibitors for PSMA targeted imaging and radiotherapy. The invention relates to low-molecular weight gadolinium (Gd)-based MR contrast agents for PSMA- specific Ti-weighted MR imaging are disclosed. The (Gd)-based MR contrast agents exhibit high binding affinity for PSMA and exhibit specific Ti contrast enhancement at PSMA+ cells. The PSMA-targeted Gd-based MR contrast agents can be used for PSMA- targeted imaging in vivo. 86Y-labeled PSMA-binding ureas also are provided, wherein the PSMA-binding ureas also are suitable for use with other radiotherapeutics.

In a method, computer and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for normalizing MR contrast images of an examination object that has two chemically different substances (SW, SF), wherein the first substance produces a first image signal and the second substance produces a second image signal, a processor is provided with a complex-valued contrast having pixels with signal contributions from the first and second substances. A phase correction of this contrast image is performed by calculating a real-valued contrast from the amount of the image signals of each pixel of the complex-valued contrast image. A mathematically smooth correction map is determined based on a number of the pixels that have a defined real-valued contrast. The intensity of pixels of the complex-valued contrast image are homogenized with other scans based on the correction map.

Featured are a new class of reporter genes including reporter compositions as well as methods, MRI systems and MRI imaging kits related thereto. The genes according to the present invention provide MR contrast when the sample / subject is irradiated at a specific off-resonance radio-frequency (RF frequency), where the contrast mechanism utilizes chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) technique for imaging.

The invention features a novel non-invasive approach for imaging, detecting and / or sensing metal ions with improved sensitivity and specificity in a biological sample or tissue. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a MR contrast-based approach for imaging, detecting and / or sensing metal ions in the biological sample / tissue containing various background ions by using 19F-based chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) technique.