US5746208A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of magnetic resonance arteriography using contrast agents
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-08-06
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Granted: 1998-05-05
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Expires: 2016-08-06
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a method and apparatus for providing preferential enhancement of an artery of interest relative to adjacent veins and background tissue. The method and apparatus adapts the timing of a maximum or substantially elevated rate of infusion to correlate with the collection of image data corresponding to the center of k-space. The technique and apparatus temporally correlates the timing of a maximum or substantially elevated rate of infusion and the mapping of k-space according to the location of the artery of interest, the size of the artery of interest, the physical condition of the patient, the time delay due to the configuration of the contrast agent delivery system, and/or the type of pulse sequence employed by the imaging apparatus. Adapting the timing of a maximum or substantially elevated rate of infusion to correlate with the collection of image data corresponding to the center of k-space provides a period of a maximum or substantially elevated contrast concentration in the artery of interest relative to adjacent veins during collection of at least a portion of the image data corresponding to the center of k-space.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin R. Prince
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/41; A61B5/414; A61B5/416; A61B5/411; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/06; A61K49/18; G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/54; G01R33/56; G01R33/5601; G01R33/563; A61B5/20; A61B5/201; A61B5/72; A61B5/7271; A61B5/7285; G01R33/28; G01R33/281; G01R33/561; G01R33/5619; G01R33/56308
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of imaging an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, comprising, administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and collecting image data which is representative of a substantial portion of a center of k-space while the patient suspends respiration and a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially higher than the concentration of contrast agent in adjacent veins and background tissue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of imaging an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, comprising, administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and collecting image data which is representative of a substantial portion of a center of k-space while the patient suspends respiration and a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially higher than the concentration of contrast agent in adjacent veins and background tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of collecting image data includes collecting image data using a 3D gradient echo pulse sequence and the step of administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent includes administering the contrast agent to the patient by bolus injection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of administering the magnetic resonance contrast agent further includes administering the contrast agent to the patient, by intravenous infusion, during collection of the image data and at a rate of infusion which is sufficient to provide a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery which is substantially higher than a concentration of contrast agent in veins adjacent to the artery during collection of the image data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 further including: collecting pre-scanning image data of the artery prior to administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient, and generating final image data of the artery using the pre-scanning image data and the image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of collecting image data includes collecting a portion of the image data which is representative of a center of k-space while the concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially a maximum relative to adjacent veins and background tissue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of collecting image data further includes collecting the substantial portion of the image data which is representative of the center of k-space while a flip angle is between about 20°0 to about 90°, TR≦30 milliseconds and TE≦7 milliseconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of administering the magnetic resonance contrast agent further includes administering the contrast agent to the patient substantially throughout the collection of the image data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of collecting the image data which is representative of the center of k-space further includes collecting at least a portion of the data after a signal intensity from a region of interest increases by more than about 100%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of collecting image data further includes collecting data which is representative of the center of k-space while the concentration of contrast agent in the artery is about a maximum and while a flip angle is between about 20° to about 90°.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space includes collecting image data while a field of view is greater than about 30 centimeters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space includes collecting image data while a slice thickness is less than 5 millimeters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space includes using a body coil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the step of collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space includes collecting image data using a coronally oriented imaging volume.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of imaging a portion of an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, the method comprising, administering magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and collecting image data which is representative of a center of k-space while the patient suspends respiration and while a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially a maximum relative to a concentration of contrast agent in adjacent veins and background tissue.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of imaging a portion of an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, the method comprising, administering magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and collecting image data which is representative of a center of k-space while the patient suspends respiration and while a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially a maximum relative to a concentration of contrast agent in adjacent veins and background tissue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient includes administering the contrast agent to the patient by bolus injection.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space includes collecting the image data while a flip angle is between about 20° to about 9°, TR≦30 milliseconds and TE≦7 milliseconds.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of collecting data which is representative of the center of k-space includes using a 3D gradient echo pulse sequence.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the 3D gradient echo pulse sequence is a 3D spoiled gradient echo pulse sequence.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of collecting the image data which is representative of the center of k-space further includes collecting at least a portion of the data after a signal intensity from a region of interest increases by more than about 50%.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of collecting image data further includes collecting at least 25% of the data which is representative of the center of k-space while the concentration of contrast agent in the artery is substantially higher than the concentration of contrast agent in adjacent veins and background tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 14 further including: collecting pre-contrast image data prior to administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient, and generating final image data of the artery using the pre-contrast image data and the image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of imaging a portion of an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, the method comprising, administering magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient by intravenous injection; and collecting image data which is representative of a substantial portion of a center of k-space while a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially a maximum relative to a concentration of contrast agent in adjacent veins and background tissue.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of imaging a portion of an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, the method comprising, administering magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient by intravenous injection; and collecting image data which is representative of a substantial portion of a center of k-space while a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially a maximum relative to a concentration of contrast agent in adjacent veins and background tissue.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient includes administering the contrast agent to the patient by bolus injection.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space includes collecting the image data while a flip angle is between about 20° to about 90°, TR≦30 milliseconds and TE≦7 milliseconds.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of collecting data which is representative of the center of k-space includes using a 3D gradient echo pulse sequence.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the 3D gradient echo pulse sequence is a 3D spoiled gradient echo pulse sequence.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of imaging a portion of an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, the portion of the artery being within a region of interest, the method comprising, administering magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient by bolus injection; and performing a 3D gradient echo pulse sequence to image the portion of the artery including collecting image data which is representative of a substantial portion of a center of k-space while a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the artery.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of imaging a portion of an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, the portion of the artery being within a region of interest, the method comprising, administering magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient by bolus injection; and performing a 3D gradient echo pulse sequence to image the portion of the artery including collecting image data which is representative of a substantial portion of a center of k-space while a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the artery.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the step of collecting image data further includes collecting the image data while a flip angle is between about 20° to about 90°. TR≦30 milliseconds and TE≦7 milliseconds.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the step of collecting image data further includes using a body coil.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the 3D gradient echo pulse sequence is a 3D spoiled gradient echo pulse sequence.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 27 further including: collecting pre-contrast image data of the artery prior to administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient, and generating final image data of the artery using the pre-contrast image data and the image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of imaging an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, comprising, administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and collecting image data which is representative of a substantial portion of a center of k-space while a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the artery and while a flip angle is between about 20° to about 90° and a slice thickness is less than about 5 millimeters.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of imaging an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, comprising, administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and collecting image data which is representative of a substantial portion of a center of k-space while a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the artery and while a flip angle is between about 20° to about 90° and a slice thickness is less than about 5 millimeters.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the step of collecting data includes using a 3D gradient echo pulse sequence.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the 3D gradient echo pulse sequence is a 3D spoiled gradient echo pulse sequence.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the step of collecting image data further includes using a body coil.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the step of administering the contrast agent to the patient further includes administering the contrast agent to allow redistribution of the contrast agent into the extravascular fluid compartment in a systemic capillary bed distal to the artery so that, during collection of the image data, the concentration of magnetic resonance contrast agent in the adjacent veins is significantly lower than the concentration of magnetic resonance contrast agent in the artery.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 32 further including: collecting pre-contrast image data of the artery prior to administering the contrast agent to the patient, and generating final image data of the artery using the pre-contrast image data and the image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the step of collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space includes collecting image data using a coronally oriented imaging volume.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the step of collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space includes collecting image data while a field of view is greater than about 30 centimeters.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-04 | 2001-11-03 | 2002-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-04 | 2005-11-03 | 2006-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-04 | 2009-11-03 | 2010-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |