34 results about "Mr contrast agent" 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.

In a method and apparatus for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography of the right coronary artery of a patient, a bolus of MR contrast agent is selected to have a size that will cause the bolus, after injection into the patient, to wash out of right coronary chambers of the heart while still enhancing MR signals from the right coronary artery. The bolus of MR contrast agent is injected into the patient, and MR signals are generated in, and MR signals are obtained from, the patient in a time window after the bolus has washed out of the right coronary chambers and still enhances MR signals in the right coronary artery. An MR image of the right coronary artery is generated using only the MR signals obtained in the time window.

The invention provides a method of imaging a blood vessel in a body using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The method includes the step of acquiring images of a region of the body in which the blood vessel is located. It also includes the step of administering an MR contrast agent into the vascular system of the body at a dose and a time selected so that the MR contrast agent passing through the blood vessel is present therein during acquisition of the images thereof for at least part of the acquiring step.

The present invention relates to in vivo imaging and in particular to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Provided by the present invention is a pharmaceutical formulation suitable for use in an MRI procedure and which offers advantages over known such formulations. A particular dose of the pharmaceutical formulation of the invention is also envisioned as well as the use of said dose in a method of in vivo imaging. This present invention provides for simultaneous administration of a liver specific agent and a second MR contrast agent that is capable of better / further enhancing the dynamic vascular phase in a patient. The method of the invention has the advantage of simplicity and patient comfort, compared to sequential injections. Furthermore, the method of the invention provides the advantage that it can enable a lower cumulative dose of contrast agents.

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.

Multivalent CT or MR contrast agents and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The agents contain a moiety, such as a polymer, that provides multivalent attachment of CT or MR contrast agents. Examples include, but are not limited to, multivalent linear polymers, branched polymers, or hyperbranched polymers, such as dendrimers, and combinations thereof. The dendrimer is functionalized with one or more high Z-elements, such as iodine. The high Z-elements can be covalently or non-covalently bound to the dendrimer. The dendrimers are confined in order to enhance CT contrast. In some embodiments, the moiety is confined by encapsulating the dendrimers in a material to form particles, such as nanoparticles. In other embodiments, the dendrimer is confined by conjugating the moiety to a material, such as a polymer, which forms a gel upon contact with bodily fluids.

The invention relates to the technical field of medicine. At present, a USPIO (Ultra-small Super Paramagnetic Iron Oxide) preparation which has high in-vivo target tissue selectivity, high target tissue distribution concentration and high MR (Magnetic Resonance) imaging sensitivity is not reported. A stable and effective invisible nano-liposome preparation is prepared by taking an invisible nano-liposome as a vector, combining MR diagnosis with treatment and carrying USPIO and an anti-tumor medicament simultaneously. Due to the adoption of the invisible nano-liposome injection preparation serving as an MR contrast agent, the in-vivo tissue selectivity of the USPIO can be increased, the sensitivity is increased, and early diagnosis of diseases is facilitated; meanwhile, the invisible nano-liposome injection preparation is taken as a means for evaluating the curative effect of tumor therapy, so that the curative effect of tumor chemotherapy is monitored in real time, overtreatment of a patient is reduced, toxic and side effects are reduced, and the curative effect of tumor chemotherapy is improved.

The invention provides a single-cylinder double-chamber injector needle cylinder; the needle cylinder is provided with two pistons which divide the needle cylinder into a front chamber and a back chamber; the two pistons are connected with each other by a flexible connecting piece; the front chamber piston is provided with a through hole and a sealing device, thus realizing double drug administration of CT and MR contrast agent and physiological saline; remaining contrast agent in the cylinder is injected into human body by a physiological saline washing pipe and enters vein after being driven, so that the contrast agent reaches the target organ rapidly, thus increasing contrast of pathological changes with surrounding tissues and improving checkout of the pathological changes; meanwhile,blood supply information of nidus is increased, which facilitates diagnosis and differential diagnosis and increases certainty factor of diagnosis by the doctors; when CT and MR angiogram is carried out, contrast between the blood vessel and surrounding tissues is increased, which improves the angiogram effect; perfusion imaging is carried out on CT and MR, so that the contrast agent which entersthe targeted organ has more constant rate and more accurate data is obtained; on the basis, more abundant information is expected to be obtained with the same amount of contrast agent used or the useamount of the contrast agent is expected to be reduced.