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US4867963A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Enhancement of NMR imaging of tissue by paramagnetic pyrophosphate contrast agent

Assignee: Temple University
•
Filing: 1987-01-29
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Granted: 1989-09-19
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Expires: 2007-01-29
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Abstract

Abstract Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of animal or human tissue is enhanced when a paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound is administered intraveneously as a contrast agent. The contrast agent is particularly useful in magnetic resonance imaging of area of tissue calcification, such as acute myocardial infarctions. Specific localization of paramagnetic pyrophosphate in ischemic and necrotic muscle cells at the periphery of a myocardial infarction makes accurate localization and sizing of the central infarct and peri-infarct zones possible.

Inventors

  • 👤 Alan H. Maurer
  • 👤 Linda C. Knight
  • 👤 Jeffrey A. Siegel

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 13:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/806; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/24

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 53 words
A method for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of calcium deposits in human or animal tissue comprising administering an amount of a solution of a paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound as a contrast agent effective to enhance the nuclear magnetic resonance image of said calcium deposits, and obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance images of said calcium deposits.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 53 words
A method for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of calcium deposits in human or animal tissue comprising administering an amount of a solution of a paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound as a contrast agent effective to enhance the nuclear magnetic resonance image of said calcium deposits, and obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance images of said calcium deposits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the imaged tissue comprises cardiac tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound is administered intraveneously.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein the dosage of paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound is between about 30 and about 325 mg per kg of body weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound is ferric pyrophosphate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the paramagnetic pyrophosphate is gadolinium (III) pyrophosphate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method according to claim 5 wherein the tissue concentration of Fe(III) as ferric pyrophosphate in the tissue being imaged reaches about 0.06 mg per gram of tissue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said Fe(III) tissue concentration as ferric pyrophosphate is achieved within one hour after intraveneous administration of ferric pyrophosphate.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 52 words
A method for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of calcium deposits in a myocardial infarction comprising administering an amount of a solution of a paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound as a contrast agent effective to enhance the nuclear magnetic resonance image of said calcium deposits, and obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance images of said calcium deposits.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 52 words
A method for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of calcium deposits in a myocardial infarction comprising administering an amount of a solution of a paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound as a contrast agent effective to enhance the nuclear magnetic resonance image of said calcium deposits, and obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance images of said calcium deposits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein the paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound is administered intravenously
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 12 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the perinfarct zone is imaged.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein the dosage of paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound is between about 30 and about 325 mg per kg of body weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein the paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound is ferric pyrophosphate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the tissue concentration of Fe(III) as ferric pyrophosphate in the tissue being imaged reaches about 0.06 mg per gram of tissue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein said Fe(III) tissue concentration is achieved within one hour after intravenous administration of ferric pyrophosphate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein the paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound is gadolinium (III) pyrophosphate.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 62 words
A method for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of calcium deposits in an acute myocardial infarction comprising intravenously administering a solution containing from about 30 mg to about 325 mg of ferric pyrophosphate per kg of body weight as a contrast agent to enhance the nuclear magnetic resonance image of said calcium deposits, and obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance images of said calcium deposits.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 62 words
A method for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of calcium deposits in an acute myocardial infarction comprising intravenously administering a solution containing from about 30 mg to about 325 mg of ferric pyrophosphate per kg of body weight as a contrast agent to enhance the nuclear magnetic resonance image of said calcium deposits, and obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance images of said calcium deposits.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 55 words
A method for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of amyloid deposits in human or animal organs or tissue comprising administering an amount of a solution of a paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound as a contrast agent effective to enhance the nuclear magnetic resonance image of said amyloid deposits, and obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance images of said amyloid deposits.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 55 words
A method for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of amyloid deposits in human or animal organs or tissue comprising administering an amount of a solution of a paramagnetic pyrophosphate compound as a contrast agent effective to enhance the nuclear magnetic resonance image of said amyloid deposits, and obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance images of said amyloid deposits.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4647447A Cited
US4615879A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-09-18 1993-03-20 1993-09-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-09-18 1997-03-20 1997-09-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-09-18 2001-03-20 2001-09-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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