US6026316A — Method and apparatus for use with MR imaging

Claim 1

Independent Claim 142 words

A method for observing the delivery of material to tissue in anatomic regions of the brain of a living patient comprising the steps of: a) observing in real time by Magnetic Resonance Imaging a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue in the anatomic region of the brain of said living patient, said area or volume including a material delivery device, b) delivering at least some material by said material delivery device into said area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while observing said visible image in real time, c) observing in real time a change in amplitude of a Magnetic Resonance signal of said visible image of an area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while said material delivery device is still present within said area or volume within said anatomic region of the brain.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 142 words

A method for observing the delivery of material to tissue in anatomic regions of the brain of a living patient comprising the steps of: a) observing in real time by Magnetic Resonance Imaging a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue in the anatomic region of the brain of said living patient, said area or volume including a material delivery device, b) delivering at least some material by said material delivery device into said area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while observing said visible image in real time, c) observing in real time a change in amplitude of a Magnetic Resonance signal of said visible image of an area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while said material delivery device is still present within said area or volume within said anatomic region of the brain.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said change in a property of said visible image is a change in signal intensity of said visible image.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said observing is done at intervals.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1 wherein a rate of material delivery within said area or volume of tissue is estimated.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said rate is estimated by relating a volume of material delivered into said area or volume of tissue by an apparent image change observed within said area or volume.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 5 wherein said rate is estimated by consideration of an observed degree of change in signal intensity which is assumed to relate to a concentration change of said material within said area or volume of tissue.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 6 wherein said change in a property of said visible image is a change in signal intensity of said visible image.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 1 wherein, in response to said observing a change, said material delivery device is relocated to improve delivery of material to a desired location.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 1 wherein there is a propagation of material mass flow into said area or volume of tissue from said material delivery device, and said propagation of material mass flow is observed in real time to observe delivery of said material to tissue within said area or volume of tissue.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 109 words

The method of claim 1 wherein changes in said property of said visible image of an area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while said material delivery device is still present within said area or volume are caused by at least one change selected from the group consisting of: a) a change in the apparent diffusion coefficient of tissue water protons; b) a change in tissue magnetic susceptibility; c) a change in T 1 tissue relaxivity; d) a change in T 2 tissue relativity; e) a change in tissue magnetization transfer coefficients; f) a change in tissue chemical shift frequency; and g) a change in tissue temperature.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The process of claim 1 wherein said material delivery is performed as brain intraparenchymal delivery of drugs.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

The process of claim 11 wherein said brain intraparenchymal delivery of drugs is performed without endovascular administration of drugs.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said at least some material comprises a therapeutic compound, which therapeutic compound causes change in a property of said visible image.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 13 wherein a contrast agent is present in combination with said therapeutic compound.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 201 words

A method for observing the increase of material within aqueous environments or tissue in the anatomic region of the brain in a living patient comprising the steps of: a) observing in real time by Magnetic Resonance Imaging a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue in the anatomic region of the brain of said living patient, said area or volume including a medical device which can be observed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging, b) causing by said medical device at least some therapeutic material which causes an alteration in the magnetic response of water in which said material is dispersed or dissolved to increase its concentration within said area or volume comprising an aqueous environment or tissue in the anatomic region of the brain of a living patient while observing said visible image in real time, c) observing in real time a change in a property of said visible image of an area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while said medical device is still present within said volume, d) observing in real time a change in a property of said visible image after said medical device has been moved from within said area or volume of tissue.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 201 words

A method for observing the increase of material within aqueous environments or tissue in the anatomic region of the brain in a living patient comprising the steps of: a) observing in real time by Magnetic Resonance Imaging a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue in the anatomic region of the brain of said living patient, said area or volume including a medical device which can be observed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging, b) causing by said medical device at least some therapeutic material which causes an alteration in the magnetic response of water in which said material is dispersed or dissolved to increase its concentration within said area or volume comprising an aqueous environment or tissue in the anatomic region of the brain of a living patient while observing said visible image in real time, c) observing in real time a change in a property of said visible image of an area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while said medical device is still present within said volume, d) observing in real time a change in a property of said visible image after said medical device has been moved from within said area or volume of tissue.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 5 wherein said medical device stimulates a part of the patient to increase or decrease its production of a chemical whose presence in water causes a change in a property of said visible image.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 206 words

A method of observing a different rate of passage of a chemical through structural material within the body of a living patient, said material having a delivery side and a distribution side, said method comprising: a) observing by Magnetic Resonance Imaging a visible image within an area to volume comprising tissue of said living patient, said area or volume including a delivery device which can be observed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging, b) causing by said delivery device to deliver at least some material which causes an alteration in the magnetic response of water in which said material is dispersed or dissolved, c) observing movement of said material within said patient through said material from said delivery side or said distribution side, d) observing in real time a change in a property of a visible image in an area or volume on said distribution side of said material said medical device is still present within said area or volume, and e) observing differences in rates of penetration of said chemical material through said structural material at different areas of said structural material which are indicative of different properties in said structural material at said different areas which are evidence of a clinical condition in said structural material.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 206 words

A method of observing a different rate of passage of a chemical through structural material within the body of a living patient, said material having a delivery side and a distribution side, said method comprising: a) observing by Magnetic Resonance Imaging a visible image within an area to volume comprising tissue of said living patient, said area or volume including a delivery device which can be observed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging, b) causing by said delivery device to deliver at least some material which causes an alteration in the magnetic response of water in which said material is dispersed or dissolved, c) observing movement of said material within said patient through said material from said delivery side or said distribution side, d) observing in real time a change in a property of a visible image in an area or volume on said distribution side of said material said medical device is still present within said area or volume, and e) observing differences in rates of penetration of said chemical material through said structural material at different areas of said structural material which are indicative of different properties in said structural material at said different areas which are evidence of a clinical condition in said structural material.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 17 wherein said at least some material comprises a therapeutic compound, which therapeutic compound causes change in a property of said visible image.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 18 wherein a contrast agent is present in combination with said therapeutic compound.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 114 words

A method for observing the delivery of material to tissue in a living patient comprising: a) observing by Magnetic Resonance Imaging with actively shielded gradients of at least 12 mTesla/m a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue of said living patient, said area or volume including a material delivery device, b) delivering at least some therapeutic material by said material delivery device into said area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient, c) observing in real time a change in a property of said visible image of an area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while said material delivery device is still present within said area or volume.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 114 words

A method for observing the delivery of material to tissue in a living patient comprising: a) observing by Magnetic Resonance Imaging with actively shielded gradients of at least 12 mTesla/m a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue of said living patient, said area or volume including a material delivery device, b) delivering at least some therapeutic material by said material delivery device into said area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient, c) observing in real time a change in a property of said visible image of an area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while said material delivery device is still present within said area or volume.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 20 wherein said Magnetic Resonance Imaging is with actively shielded gradients of at least 20 mTesla/m.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 20 wherein said Magnetic Resonance Imaging is with a magnetic field of at least about 1.5 Tesla.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 114 words

A method for observing the delivery of material to tissue in a living patient comprising: a) observing in real time by Magnetic Resonance Imaging with diffusion gradients of at least 600 s/mm 2 a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue of said living patient, said area or volume including a material delivery device, b) delivering at least some pharmaceutical material by said material delivery device into said area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient, c) observing a change in a property of said visible image of an area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while said material delivery device is still present within said area or volume.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 114 words

A method for observing the delivery of material to tissue in a living patient comprising: a) observing in real time by Magnetic Resonance Imaging with diffusion gradients of at least 600 s/mm 2 a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue of said living patient, said area or volume including a material delivery device, b) delivering at least some pharmaceutical material by said material delivery device into said area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient, c) observing a change in a property of said visible image of an area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while said material delivery device is still present within said area or volume.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 116 words

A method for observing the delivery of therapeutic material to tissue in a living patient comprising the steps of: a) observing in real time by Magnetic Resonance Imaging a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue of said living patient, said area or volume including a material delivery device, b) delivering at least some therapeutic material by said material delivery device into said tissue within said area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient, c) observing in real time a change in a property of said visible image in said tissue within said area or volume while said material delivery device is still present within said area or volume within said visible image.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 116 words

A method for observing the delivery of therapeutic material to tissue in a living patient comprising the steps of: a) observing in real time by Magnetic Resonance Imaging a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue of said living patient, said area or volume including a material delivery device, b) delivering at least some therapeutic material by said material delivery device into said tissue within said area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient, c) observing in real time a change in a property of said visible image in said tissue within said area or volume while said material delivery device is still present within said area or volume within said visible image.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 24 wherein said at least some material comprises a therapeutic compound, which therapeutic compound causes change in a property of said visible image.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 25 wherein a contrast agent is present in combination with said therapeutic compound.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 143 words

A method for observing the delivery of material to tissue in anatomic regions of the spinal cord of a living patient comprising the steps of: a) observing in real time by Magnetic Resonance Imaging a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue in the anatomic region of the brain of said living patient, said area or volume including a material delivery device, b) delivering at least some material by said material delivery device into said area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while observing said visible image in real time, c) observing in real time a change in amplitude of a Magnetic Resonance signal of said visible image of an area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while said material delivery device is still present within said area or volume within said anatomic region of the brain.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 143 words

A method for observing the delivery of material to tissue in anatomic regions of the spinal cord of a living patient comprising the steps of: a) observing in real time by Magnetic Resonance Imaging a visible image within an area or volume comprising tissue in the anatomic region of the brain of said living patient, said area or volume including a material delivery device, b) delivering at least some material by said material delivery device into said area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while observing said visible image in real time, c) observing in real time a change in amplitude of a Magnetic Resonance signal of said visible image of an area or volume comprising tissue of a living patient while said material delivery device is still present within said area or volume within said anatomic region of the brain.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-02-14	2003-08-16	2004-02-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-02-14	2007-08-16	2008-02-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-02-14	2011-08-16	2012-02-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for use with MR imaging

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