EP0495287A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Magnetic resonance imaging
Assignee: Praxair Technology Inc
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Filing: 1991-06-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A method for carrying out magnetic resonance imaging with improved contrast which comprises: (A) providing a living organic subject (1) having nuclei; (B) providing stable neon to the subject; (C) applying a magnetic field (3) to the subject to align at least some (5) of the subject's nuclei; (D) providing radio energy for absorption and reemission by the aligned nuclei; and (E) gathering data based on the re-emitted radio energy to produce output of medical value in patient management; and a neon-containing mixture for use therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Royce Shawn Fishman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/54; G01R33/56; G01R33/5601; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/06; A61K49/18; A61K49/1806; A61K49/1815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for carrying out magnetic resonance imaging with improved contrast which comprises: (A) providing a living organic subject (1) having nuclei; (B) providing stable neon to the subject; (C) applying a magnetic field (3) to the subject to align at least some (5) of the subject's nuclei; (D) providing radio energy for absorption and reemission by the aligned nuclei; and (E) gathering data based on the re-emitted radio energy to produce output of medical value in patient management.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the stable neon is provided to the subject invasively by injection or infusion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the neon is provided in gaseous form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the neon is provided as part of an equilibrated, saturated or supersaturated solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the subject is a person or animal and the stable neon is provided to the subject non-invasively by the breathing in of pure stable neon alternated with the breathing in of pure oxygen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the subject is a person or animal and the stable neon is provided non-invasively to the subject by the breathing in of a mixture comprising from 10 to 80.5 mole percent stable neon and from 19.5 to 90 mole percent oxygen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the mixture additionally comprises one or more of (a) helium in a concentration of up to 30 mole percent, (b) carbon dioxide in a concentration of up to 7 mole percent; (c) nitrogen in a concentration of up to 70.5 mole percent.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the stable neon is provided to the subject from a cylinder.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
23 words
A method according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the stable neon is part of a gas mixture within the cylinder.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
34 words
A method according to any of claims 1 to 5 or 7 to 9, wherein the stable neon is provided to the subject as a gas mixture which is prepared at the use site.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
25 words
A method according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the data gathering of step (E) comprises establishing qualitative physiological information and an image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
A mixture, particularly useful for provision to a living organic subject for contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging, which comprises (A) from 10 to 80.5 mole percent stable neon; (B) from 19.5 to 90 mole percent oxygen; (C) from 0 to 30 mole percent helium; (D) from 0 to 7 mole percent carbon dioxide; and (E) from 0 to 70.5 mole percent nitrogen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A mixture according to claim 12, wherein the mixture is a gas mixture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mixture according to claim 12 or 13, which comprises from 40 to 80.5 mole percent stable neon and/or from 19.5 to 60 mole percent oxygen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A mixture according to any of claims 12 to 14, which comprises one or more of (a) from 1 to 20 mole percent helium, (b) from 0.2 to 5 mole percent carbon dioxide, (c) from 1 to 40 mole percent nitrogen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mixture according to any of claims 12 to 14, which comprises from 1 to 30 mole percent helium and from 0.2 to 7 mole percent carbon dioxide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
A mixture according to any of claims 12 to 14, which comprises from 1 to 70.5 mole percent nitrogen and (a) from 1 to 30 mole percent helium or (b) from 0.2 to 7 mole percent carbon dioxide or (c) from 1 to 30 mole percent helium and from 0.2 to 7 mole percent carbon dioxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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