| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080200799 | Mri Involving Contrast Agent With Time Modulated Contrast Enhancement - The present invention provides a method MRI imaging. By applying a time modulation to the contrast enhancement of an MRI contrast agent, the method according to the invention leads to images with improved signal-to-noise ratio in the contrast-enhanced areas, strongly suppressed unwanted signal in the unenhanced areas, and reduced artefacts, such as motion artefacts. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080208038 | Method and Device For Representing the Microstructure of the Lungs - The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for imaging the microstructure of an animal or human lung by way of introducing a fluoric contrast gas into the lung which is to be imaged; definition of the apparent diffusion coefficient of the contrast gas by way of diffusion weighted | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080221432 | Low temperature method to enhance detection of magnetic beads - Detection of magnetic beads at temperature below room temperature can increase the signal level significantly as compared to the same detection when performed at room temperature. Additional improvement is obtained if the beads are below 30 nm in size and if deviations of bead size from the median are small. A preferred format for the beads is a suspension of super-paramagnetic particles in a non-magnetic medium. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080242974 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO HYPERPOLARIZE MATERIALS FOR ENHANCED MR TECHNIQUES - A system for polarizing a material to be used in techniques employing magnetic resonance (MR) is provided. The polarizer system includes a cooling chamber having a cryogenic refrigerant therein for use in polarizing a substance. A sorption pump is connected to the cooling chamber to reduce a pressure therein to allow for hyperpolarizing of the sample. The sorption pump is cooled by a refrigeration system to promote molecular adsorption in the sorption pump. The cooling chamber, sorption pump, and refrigeration system are arranged in a closed system. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080294035 | VESSEL SIZE IMAGING FOR ANTIANGIOGENIC THERAPY - A system and method of evaluating the effectiveness of antiangionetic therapy is described. A patient or test animal is treated with an antiangionetic substance. Magnetic resonance imaging data is obtained prior to and subsequent to the treatment. The parameters of the imaging process are configured so that, by administering a intravascular contrast agent, the relative size of the microvascular and the total vascular volumes in a region of interest may be obtained, so as to form a vascular size index. The value of the vascular size index and other pharmacokinetic data obtained by the administration of a diffusible contrast agent are used to assess the efficacy of the treatment or the antiangionetic substance being studied. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080300480 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE ARTERIOGRAPHY USING CONTRAST AGENTS - The present invention is a technique of, and system for, imaging vascular anatomy over distance considerably greater than the maximum practical field of view of a magnetic resonance imaging system while using substantially one contrast agent injection. The technique and system of the present invention acquires image data of a plurality of image volumes which are representative of different portions of the patient's body. The image data of each image volume includes image data which is representative of the center of k-space. The acquisition of image data which is representative of the center of k-space is correlated with a concentration of contrast agent in the artery(ies) residing in the image volume being substantially greater than the concentration of contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the artery(ies). This provides preferential enhancement of arteries relative to adjacent veins and background tissue for each acquisition, wherein each acquisition is representative of a different portion of the arterial system (e.g., abdominal aorta, femoral, popliteal, and tibial arteries). | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080319309 | System, Apparatus, and Method for Repreoducible and Comparable Flow Acquisitions - A system, apparatus and method are provided for measuring and removing the influence of pulsatility on contrast agent flow in a region of interest of a vascular system of a patient. Once the change of blood speed over the cardiac cycle is known (pulsatility), this influence is removed from acquired image sequence for outcome control such that “quasi-stationary”, regular flow acquisition is passed on to subsequent visualization and analysis processes. A contrast agent injector is also provided that simultaneously measures and uses ECG to inject a known contrast agent at a fixed point over the cardiac cycle or such that a known amount of contrast agent will arrive at a known time at a region of interest in the vasculature of a patient, thus controlling one of the main unwanted variables in an acquisition of blood flow sequences. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080319310 | Imaging Agents For Monitoring Changes Of Dopamine Receptors And Methods Of Using Thereof - The present invention is related generally to a method for screening subjects to determine those subjects more likely to develop diabetes by quantization of insulin producing cells. The present invention is also related to the diagnosis of diabetes and related to monitor disease progression or treatment efficacy of candidate drugs. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090005673 | DARK BLOOD DELAYED ENHANCEMENT MAGNETIC RESONANCE VIABILITY IMAGING TECHNIQUES FOR ASSESSING SUBENDOCARDIAL INFARCTS - The technology herein provides a dark blood delayed enhancement technique that improves the visualization of subendocardial infarcts that may otherwise be disguised by the bright blood pool. The timed combination of a slice-selective and a non-selective preparation improves the infarct/blood contrast by decoupling their relaxation curves thereby nulling both the blood and the non-infarcted myocardium. This causes the infarct to be imaged bright and the blood and non-infarct to both be imaged dark. The slice-selective preparation occurs early enough in the cardiac cycle so that fresh blood can enter the imaged slice. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090024022 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LYMPH NODE IMAGING USING CO-REGISTRATION OF CT AND MR IMAGERY - A method for imaging lymph nodes includes acquiring first magnetic resonance (MR) image data pertaining to a subject prior to administration of lymphotropic nanoparticles. Second MR image data pertaining to the subject is acquired after administration of lymphotropic nanoparticles. The first and second MR image data are registered using non-rigid registration. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090069669 | Efficient Features for Detection of Motion Artifacts in Breast MRI - A method for identifying motion artifacts in a dynamic contrast enhanced MRI includes receiving a dynamic contrast enhanced MRI including a patient's breast on which motion correction has been performed. One or more regions of suspicion are automatically identified within the breast based in the dynamic contrast enhanced MRI. The regions of suspicion are examined. A measure of negative enhancement is calculated within a local neighborhood about each identified region of suspicion. Each identified region of suspicion for which the calculated measure of negative enhancement is greater than a predetermined threshold is removed. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090069670 | SITE MARKER - A site marker and method of using a site marker are described and disclosed. The site marker comprises a bio-compatible and a plurality of elements, wherein the biocompatible material and at least one of the plurality of elements are imageable under different modalities. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090093711 | Method and System for Automatic Classification of Lesions in Breast MRI - A method for classifying a lesion in an MRI includes acquiring a pre-contrast MR image. A magnetic contrast agent is administered. A set of post-contrast MR images are acquired. The acquired pre-contrast and post-contrast MR images are displayed. A manually entered value is received for a size of a lesion manually identified within the pre-contrast and post-contrast MR images. A manually entered value for an absorption/washout profile is received of the manually identified lesion. A risk of malignancy for the manually identified lesion is automatically determined based on the received size value and absorption/washout profile. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090105582 | Rapid 3-diamensional bilateral breast MR imaging - Provided is a method for rapid, 3D, dynamic, projection reconstruction bilateral breast imaging using simultaneous multi-slab volume excitation and radial acquisition of a contrast enhanced bilateral image, in conjunction with SENSE processing, using k-Space Weighted Image Contrast (“KWIC”) filtering and multi-coil arrays for signal separation in an interleaved bilateral MR bilateral breast scan that uses conventional Cartesian sampling without parallel imaging. Software was developed for the reconstruction, modeling contrast kinetics using a heuristic model, display by parametric mapping and viewer/analysis of the multidimensional, high frame-rate bilateral breast images. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090118610 | MRI-GUIDED LOCALIZATION AND/OR LEAD PLACEMENT SYSTEMS, RELATED METHODS, DEVICES AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS - MRI compatible localization and/or guidance systems for facilitating placement of an interventional therapy and/or device in vivo include: (a) a mount adapted for fixation to a patient; (b) a targeting cannula with a lumen configured to attach to the mount so as to be able to controllably translate in at least three dimensions; and (c) an elongate probe configured to snugly slidably advance and retract in the targeting cannula lumen, the elongate probe comprising at least one of a stimulation or recording electrode. In operation, the targeting cannula can be aligned with a first trajectory and positionally adjusted to provide a desired internal access path to a target location with a corresponding trajectory for the elongate probe. Automated systems for determining an MR scan plane associated with a trajectory and for determining mount adjustments are also described. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090156927 | ANGIOGRAPHIC METHOD AND APPARATUS ALLOWING IDENTIFICATION OF CONTRAST AGENT PROPAGATION - In a method and apparatus for acquisition of angiographic data sets of a region of an examination subject, into whose bloodstream a contrast agent has been introduced, a data set of the region to be examined is acquired during a first propagation phase of the contrast agent in the bloodstream as a reference data set to determine reference data, additional data sets of the region to be examined are then acquired, and based on the reference data, variations that are caused in at least some of the additional data sets due to the arrival of a second propagation phase of the contrast agent are determined, and the arrival of the second propagation phase of the contrast agent in the bloodstream is identified based on the determined variations. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090177079 | MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM HAVING AN INTEGRATED INJECTION DEVICE - Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an MRI system ( | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090234221 | RESPONSIVE PARAMAGNETIC MRI CONTRAST AGENTS - A method is claimed based on CEST procedure for the in vivo or in vitro determination of physical or chemical parameters which includes the use of a responsive paramagnetic CEST contrast agent. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090247860 | SPECTRAL BIOMARKER AND ALGORITHM FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND DETECTION OF NEURAL STEM AND PROGENITOR CELLS AND THEIR USE IN STUDYING MAMMALIAN BRAINS - The disclosure provides a biomarker and algorithm for identifying and detecting neural stem and progenitor cells and their use in studying mammalian brains. The disclosure further provides magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods and an image enhancing algorithm for the study of the proliferation of these cells and the associated neurogenesis in the live mammalian brain. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090253983 | IMAGE BASED MEASUREMENT OF CONTRAST AGENTS - Provided is a method, including accessing or acquiring a phase image including a contrast agent enhanced region and determining a quantity of a contrast agent based on the phase image. Further provided is a computer program for determining the quantity of a substance in a region. The program is constructed and arranged to access or acquire a contrast enhanced image, to execute a fitting algorithm based on data contained in the contrast enhanced image, and to determine the quantity of the substance based on the output/result/outcome of the fitting algorithm. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090253984 | MEDICAL IMAGING METHOD AND MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM - In a medical imaging method of taking a tomographic image of a sample into which a contrast medium is injected by the use of a medical imaging system, a monitoring operation is performed on the sample into which the contrast medium is injected and then an imaging scan for reconstructing the tomographic image is performed. The monitoring operation is to repeat the steps of: (1) performing a monitoring scan for collecting data representing a concentration distribution of the contrast medium in a monitoring region of the sample, (2) reconstructing a reconstructed image representing the concentration distribution of the contrast medium in the monitoring region from the data acquired by the monitoring scan, (3) calculating a maximum signal value from a reconstructed image newly reconstructed and the reconstructed image previously reconstructed every pixel and generating a monitoring image including the maximum signal value calculated every pixel whenever the reconstructed image is newly reconstructed, and (4) monitoring whether a start time of the imaging scan comes in, until the start time comes in. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090264732 | IMAGING AGENTS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - The present invention relates to compositions and methods useful in connection with magnetic resonance imaging. In various embodiments, the invention employs the PASADENA polarization technique to prepare contrast agents that target complementary molecules in the body and/or that are processed through predetermined, natural metabolic pathways. The invention includes methods of using the contrast agents and kits including the same. In one embodiment, a diagnostic and prognostic method relating to Alzheimer's disease is described. Further embodiments relate to medical devices including the contrast agents. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090264733 | MRI CONTRAST USING HIGH TRANSVERSE RELAXATION RATE CONTRAST AGENT - This document discloses, among other things, a system and method of creating a positive contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) feature using a high transverse relaxation rate contrast agent. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090264734 | APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A SYSTEM PRESSURE IN SPACE WITH TIME AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING DRUG DELIVERY AND RESISTANCE TO THERAPY AND PRODUCT - A method, apparatus and a computer readable medium containing executable instructions for monitoring a system pressure within a mammal, human or animal, via a tracer/contrast agent, in space in time for determining non-invasively actual interstitial fluid pressure and/or concentration of the tracer/contrast agent. Further, an imaging method, an apparatus and a product for non-invasive mapping of actual interstitial fluid pressure and/or a tracer/contrast agent concentration for assessing drug delivery and resistance to therapy of a tumor or organ within a mammal, to suppress or reduce pressure in a tumor or organ and to control the delivery of drugs to a tumor or organ. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090287077 | SYSTEM FOR DETECTING FUNCTION OF INTESTINAL BARRIER AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME - A system for detecting function of an intestinal barrier in a subject is provided, which includes: a contrast agent for being administered directly to an intestinal lumen of the subject, allowing a detecting device to detect in vivo or in vitro the signal indication produced by the contrast agent in the tested targets such as abdominal organs or a blood sample; and a determining device for determining intensity of the signal indication produced by the contrast agent in the tested targets after the administration of the contrast agent so as for the intensity of the signal indication after the administration of the contrast agent to indicate damage of the intestinal barrier in the subject. The present invention also provides a method of detecting function of the intestinal barrier in a subject by using the system of the present invention. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090299171 | Intraluminal Access and Imaging Device - An intraluminal access and imaging device is configured to image a path of a vessel that includes a chronic total occlusion. The device includes an elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end is configured to pass through an inner layer of the vessel so that the elongated member may track subintimally along a side of the chronic total occlusion. The elongated member includes a radiopaque material configured to be highly visible under fluoroscopy. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090299172 | Water Diffusion imaging and Uspio - The invention relates to a method of water diffusion imaging in magnetic resonance imaging in an area of diagnostic interest, characterized in that it comprises, in combination, the administration of a contrast product capable of generating a signal specifically in its specific location area, said location area being included in said area of interest, the application of a water diffusion imaging sequence to the whole area of interest, and the reading of the images in the area of interest, the specific signal due to the contrast product significantly and specifically modifying the signal in the specific location area relative to the signal of the whole area of interest. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100022870 | Method for implementing an imaging examination method - A method is disclosed for implementing an imaging examination method. In at least one embodiment, the method includes creating an overview data record containing angiography data relating to a patient; simulating flow conditions in vessels of the patient; determining a strain on the vascular walls with the aid of the simulation; identifying vascular regions, in which the strain on the vascular wall exceeds a threshold value and implementing an imaging examination in at least one of the identified vascular regions. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100041983 | Device and method for pathology detection - A method and system may provide detection of pathologies, for example, the detection of cancer in, for example, the gastrointestinal tract utilizing for example magnetically susceptible nano-particles. Ultrasound imaging, MRI technology or other suitable techniques may be used in conjunction to localize detected pathologies. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100106007 | DOUBLE-CONTRAST TECHNIQUE FOR MRI-GUIDED VASCULAR INTERVENTIONS - Methods for confirming location of a catheter tip relative to a targeted location in a blood vessel of a subject and improving visualization of the blood vessels downstream of the catheter tip are provided. The methods comprise acquiring and displaying a first modified MR image of the subject's blood vessels between an insertion site for the catheter and the targeted location; acquiring and displaying a sequence of modified MR images of the blood vessels to monitor advancement of an inserted catheter from the insertion site to an intraluminal stop site at or near the targeted location; delivering a bolus of a magnetic resonance contrast agent through the tip of the catheter and to the intraluminal stop site, wherein the magnetic contrast agent alters the first modified MR image of the subject's blood vessels; acquiring and displaying an updated second MR modified image of the blood vessels at and downstream of the tip of the catheter. Systems and computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions operable to perform computer executable aspects of the present methods are also provided. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100145185 | EXTENDING THE RESOLUTION OF MRI DATA BY COMBINING SUBSETS FROM PLURAL IMAGE ACQUISITIONS - An MRI image from spiral trajectory scanning is arranged as complementary subsets of values in time-sampled k-space. These values are Fourier transformed to produce a spatial domain image. While holding the patient stationary, the contrast information is updated at the central portion of k-space, and the peripheral portion of k-space data can be filled during the whole image acquisition. The contrast information is combined with the peripheral portion of k-space (contributing to image resolution) to construct a full k-space data and to generate a spatial image. The technique is useful for providing short time interval sampling when analyzing the take-up and fade-away of a contrast agent over time. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100145186 | IMAGING TECHNIQUE - The present invention relates to a method of characterising lung function in a subject in need of such characterisation. The method comprises performing an imaging technique, on a voxel defined within a lung space of interest. Image data is generated over a time period during which the subject inhales gases with at least two different partial pressures of a paramagnetic gas. A compartmental model algorithm is applied to the image data generated for the voxel to provide information on ventilation, diffusion and perfusion of a lung. The paramagnetic gas is preferably Oxygen. The imaging technique is preferably Oxygen Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (OE-MRI). | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100160768 | THERAPEUTIC OUTCOME ASSESSMENT FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION - Certain embodiments provide a method of assessing an outcome of an ablative atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment modality administered to a patient, the method including: determining, from left atrium (LA) tissue image data of a subject patient that has undergone an ablative AF treatment with the modality, at least one of: a level of a parameter that is positively proportional or negatively proportional to an amount of ablated tissue in a wall of the LA of the subject patient; and a spatial distribution, in the LA wall, of a variable indicative of ablated LA tissue; and outputting, to an output device, a machine-readable indicator of at least one of: (i) a comparison between the determined level and a threshold level of the parameter; and (ii) a map of the spatial distribution. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100168554 | Evaluating Cardiac Function With Dynamic Imaging Techniques and Contrast Media - Methods suitable for use in diagnostic imaging or to generate a central circulatory turnover (CCT) index for an evaluation of cardiac function of a patient are provided. The resultant CCT index will allow the clinician to integrate information reflecting the diastolic function of the heart. A computer software and kit for the evaluation of cardiac function in a patient as well as the use of a CCT index for an evaluation of cardiac function of a patient are also provided. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100174175 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGING ABDOMINAL AORTA AND AORTIC ANEURYSMS - Technique and apparatus for acquiring anatomic information used in diagnosing and characterizing abdominal aortic aneurismal disease and the like. This technique provides anatomic information, in the form of images, using a combination of a plurality of magnetic resonance angiography sequences, including a spin-echo and four contrast enhanced (e.g., gadolinium) magnetic resonance angiography sequences. The anatomic images may be used in, for example, pre-operative, operative and post-operative evaluation of aortic pathology, including aneurysms, atherosclerosis, and occlusive disease of branch vessels such as the renal arteries. The gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography provides sufficient anatomic detail to detect aneurysms and all relevant major branch vessel abnormalities seen at angiography operation. This technique and apparatus allows for imaging the aorta at a fraction of the cost of conventional aortography and without the risks of arterial catheterization or iodinated contrast. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100191097 | METHOD OF HYPERPOLARISING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE AGENT - A method of hyperpolarising a magnetic resonance (MR) agent is suitable for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The method includes providing a solution comprising the MR agent suitable for use in MRI or MRS and at least one relaxation agent, the relaxation agent being a paramagnetic metal ion having an electron spin relaxation time of less than 1×10 | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100191098 | METHOD TO TRACK A CONTRAST AGENT IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY EXAMINATION - A method tracks contrast agent in a magnetic resonance tomography examination with examination table moving continuously in the Z-direction. In the method, a first magnetic resonance signal in a first magnetic resonance measurement without contrast agent. The first MR signal is acquired along a middle k-space line that runs essentially in the Z-direction. Values of k-space along the middle k-space line of the first MR signal are transformed by means of a Fourier transformation in the Z-direction in order to obtain a first profile of the signal intensity in the Z-direction. After a contrast agent injection, a second MR signal is acquired in a second magnetic resonance measurement. The second MR signal is acquired along the middle k-space line. Values of k-space along the middle k-space line of the second MR signal are transformed by a Fourier transformation only in the Z-direction in order to obtain a second profile of the signal intensity with contrast agent in the Z-direction. A difference profile is determined from the first profile and the second profile. A signal jump in the difference profile is used to determine a propagation edge of the contrast agent. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100191099 | MOTION-ATTENUATED CONTRAST-ENHANCED CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND RELATED METHOD THEREOF - A system and method for providing a dark-blood technique for contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance, improving visualization of subendocardial infarcts or perfusion abnormalities that may otherwise be difficult to distinguish from the bright blood pool. In one technique the dark-blood preparation is performed using a driven-equilibrium fourier transform (DEFT) preparation with motion sensitizing gradients which attenuate the signal in the ventricular cavities related to incoherent phase losses resulting from non-steady flow within the heart. This dark-blood preparation preserves the underlying contrast characteristics of the pulse sequence causing a myocardial infarction to be bright while rendering the blood pool dark. When applied to perfusion imaging, this dark-blood preparation will help eliminate artifacts resulting from the juxtaposition of a bright ventricular cavity and relatively dark myocardium. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100198054 | MRI ESTIMATION OF CONTRAST AGENT CONCENTRATION USING A NEURAL NETWORK APPROACH - The invention comprises systems, methods, and apparatus to correlate changes in MRI data with CA concentration, using an adaptive neural network In MRI techniques, CAs are used to estimate vascular properties such as blood flow, blood volume, and transfer constant of tissue microvessels However, the relationship between the contrast in the MRI image and the contrast agent concentration is not linear, instead depending on factors such as the nature of the sequence, the nature of the tissue, and the tissue concentration of contrast agent, and thus limiting the reliability of vascular properties using MRI | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100198055 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A CONTRAST AGENT INJECTION FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - In a method and magnetic resonance system for controlling a contrast agent injector used with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner of the system, a user interface is displayed at the control panel of the scanner, for configuring the operating parameters of the injector connected to the magnetic resonance imaging scanner and for controlling the injector in accordance with the operating parameters configured on said user interface, from the scanner control panel. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100210936 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO CONVEY A FLUID - An apparatus includes a fluid path, a coupling, and a nozzle. The fluid path is to carry a fluid including one or more microparticles. The coupling is located in the fluid path. The nozzle is located in the fluid path to move the fluid through a stagnant region located near the coupling. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100240985 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE ARTERIOGRAPHY USING CONTRAST AGENTS - The present invention is a technique of, and system for, imaging vascular anatomy over distance considerably greater than the maximum practical field of view of a magnetic resonance imaging system while using substantially one contrast agent injection. The technique and system of the present invention acquires image data of a plurality of image volumes which are representative of different portions of the patient's body. The image data of each image volume includes image data which is representative of the center of k-space. The acquisition of image data which is representative of the center of k-space is correlated with a concentration of contrast agent in the artery(ies) residing in the image volume being substantially greater than the concentration of contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the artery(ies). This provides preferential enhancement of arteries relative to adjacent veins and background tissue for each acquisition, wherein each acquisition is representative of a different portion of the arterial system (e.g., abdominal aorta, femoral, popliteal, and tibial arteries). | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100274119 | BLOOD FLOW DYNAMIC ANALYSIS APPARATUS, METHOD OF BLOOD FLOW DYNAMIC ANALYSIS, AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - A blood flow dynamic analysis apparatus analyzes the kinetics of a blood flow in a subject by injecting a contrast medium into the subject. The apparatus includes a map generation device computing the value of a parameter related to time change in the concentration of the contrast medium injected into the subject and generating a map of the parameter, and a display condition determination device determining a display condition for the map based on a threshold value of the parameter for discriminating between a lesion region where a lesion exists and an unaffected region where no lesion exists in the map. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100280358 | SINGLE BREATH-HOLD SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF MULTI-ORGAN PHYSIOLOGIC, MORPHOLOGIC AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES - In a single breath-hold the physiologic, morphologic and structural changes in multiple organs are detected and assessed. The main steps process include: polarizing the Xe-129 gas; inhalation or introduction of a certain pre-calculated amount of the gas and start of the breath-hold; acquisition of multiple spatially oriented spectrums, localized in the same plane (2D), in multiple different planes (3D) or in 3D plus at multiple time intervals (4D); stop the breath-hold; post-processing of the acquired data; evaluation of the multiple spectrums by comparison of the values in a region of interest with those in surrounding tissues or known as normal. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100286504 | Contrast Enhanced MRA With Highly Constrained Backprojection Reconstruction Using Phase Contrast Composite Image - Mask projection views are obtained prior to the arrival of a contrast agent during a dynamic contrast enhanced MRA study. After the arrival of the contrast agent, a set of undersampled contrast enhanced projection views are obtained for each of a plurality of time frames. Corresponding mask projection views are subtracted from the contrast enhanced projection views to provide sparse contrast enhanced projection view sets. A phase contrast scan of a region of interest is performed prior to or after the arrival of the contrast agent. The phase contrast image is used as a composite image in a HYPR reconstruction of the sparse projection view sets to produce first pass contrast enhanced images. Iterative HYPR reconstructions can also be performed to remove venous information from the reconstructed images. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100298694 | STROKE RISK ASSESSMENT - Certain embodiments provide a method of assessing a risk of thromboembolic stroke in a patient. The method comprises acquiring image data and determining an indicator of a degree of fibrosis of a patient's left atrium (LA) based on the image data. The method also comprises estimating a level of risk of thromboembolic stroke of the patient based on the indicator. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100312099 | APPARATUS TO ENABLE DISPLAY OF REAL-TIME GRAPHICAL OR NUMERIC INFORMATION WITHIN AN MR IMAGE - In a system or method to enable display of real-time graphical or numeric information within an MR image, at least one display segment having an MR visible substance therein is placed at least partially inside an imaging volume of the MR image. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100324411 | Fluid Driven Medical Injector - Some injectors of the invention may include a fluid drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid (e.g., liquid, pneumatic, or both) to impart a sequence of forces to drive a delivery device (e.g., a syringe) to deliver a medical fluid (e.g., a contrast agent, a radiopharmaceutical, a drug, or a combination thereof). Some injectors may include a multimedia tube configured to pass a working fluid (e.g., air) and a light signal (e.g., infrared). Some injectors may include a peristaltic drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110009735 | CARDIAC DIAGNOSTICS USING WALL MOTION AND PERFUSION CARDIAC MRI IMAGING AND SYSTEMS FOR CARDIAC DIAGNOSTICS - Cardiac information of a patient is displayed by obtaining a plurality of MRI cine loops of the heart of the patient at a plurality of heart rates, the plurality of cine loops including both wall motion cine loops and at least one perfusion cine loops and simultaneously displaying both the wall motion cine loops and the at least one perfusion cine loop. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110021904 | DYNAMIC PLANNING TOOL FOR USE IN CONTRAST-ENHANCED DYNAMIC SCAN IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - The timing scheme of a dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scan of the breast is critical for any subsequent analysis or CAD. This invention proposes a planning device configured to calculate the timing scheme of a dynamic MRI investigation, to be integrated in either the MRI scanner or a breast analysis or CAD software package. The planned scan may be transferred to the scanner by hand or by means of an ExamCard. The planning may also be used as the input for an analysis or CAD software pack-age. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110040173 | Imaging Agents For Use In Magnetic Resonance Blood Flow/Perfusion Imaging - In one aspect, a method of imaging blood flow in a region of interest of a subject using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is provided. The method includes introducing an imaging agent into the subject, the imaging agent including a compound having at least one hyperpolarized nucleus having a T | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110054301 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF ARTERIES USING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE CONTRAST AGENT - Systems and methods for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in which both arterial-phase image data and post-contrast image data is collected. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110077506 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR MOLECULAR IMAGING - Methods for imaging a target cell, tissue, or organ in a subject. In some embodiments, the methods include the steps of (a) administering to the subject a contrast agent that includes a paramagnetic or superparagmanetic material and a targeting moiety that targets the contrast agent to the cell, tissue, or organ; (b) introducing into the target cell, tissue, or organ, or into the vicinity thereof, a hyperpolarized gas; and (c) imaging the target cell, tissue, or organ by detecting the presence of the contrast agent in, on, or near the target cell, tissue, or organ. Also provided are methods for screening for metastasis of a tumor and/or a cancer to the lung of a subject, methods for imaging a cavity in a subject, methods for imaging a target cell, tissue, or organ in a cavity, compositions for performing the disclosed methods, and systems and kits that include the disclosed compositions and/or reagents for performing the disclosed methods. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110092806 | Compounds Comprising a Biological Target Recognizing Part, Coupled to a Signal Part Capable of Complexing Gallium - The invention concerns compounds comprising a biological target recognizing part, coupled to a signal part capable of complexing gallium. The invention also concerns methods for obtaining said compounds, screening methods capable of selecting such compounds for chemical synthesis thereof and their diagnostic applications, in particular in PET, PET/IRM, PET CT imaging. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110098558 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE OF NANOPARTICLES IN IMAGING AND DIAGNOSIS - A method for diagnosing certain types of cancers provides a nanoparticle agent to be uptaken by cancer cells for diagnosis and treatment of certain cancers. A compound containing nanoparticles is directed toward a tumor site, and then a predetermined time period passes to allow the nanoparticles to be uptaken by the cancer cells. Imaging is then performed on the nanoparticles by an appropriate imaging device to determine the concentration of nanoparticles uptaken by the cancer cells. Finally, image data provided by the imaging device is analyzed to determine the concentration of nanoparticles and thereby determine whether a tumor is present. The nanoparticle agent can further be employed as a treatment of certain cancers. After the uptake of nanoparticles into the cells, a predetermined field applied to the nanoparticles for a sufficient period of time activates the magnetic cores of the nanoparticles to include hyperthermia-mediated destruction of the cancer cells. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110105892 | PHYSIOLOGICAL PHARMACOKINETIC ANALYSIS FOR COMBINED MOLECULAR MRI AND DYNAMIC PET IMAGING - Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging typically has excellent spatial resolution, but relatively poor temporal resolution. In contrast, positron emission tomography (PET) typically has excellent temporal resolution, but poor spatial resolution relative to MR. Resultantly, it is advantageous to use combined PET-MR imaging sequences to create hybrid or enhanced images that reap the benefits of both modalities. A contrast agent ( | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110144477 | Method for Acquiring Electromagnetic Signals and Contrast Product Therefor - The invention concerns a system capable of generating a magnetic indication B.sub.o comprising gradients (G | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110144478 | MAGNETIC MICROSTRUCTURES FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A magnetic resonance contrast agent has a medium, and a contrast structure dispersed in the medium. The contrast structure comprises a magnetic material arranged to create a local region of a local magnetic field such that nuclear magnetic moments of a material when arranged within said local region precess at a characteristic Larmor frequency about a total magnetic field in the local region while in use, the characteristic Larmor frequency being identifiable with the contrast structure, and the total magnetic field in the local region being a substantially spatially uniform magnetic field. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110152670 | Method of Utilization of High Dielectric Constant (HDC) Materials for Reducing SAR and Enhancing SNR in MRI - Layers or coats of materials with high dielectric constant or permittivity with very low conductivity are inserted in between radiofrequency (RF) coil or coil's conductive elements and the sample to enhance the signal to noise ratio (SNR), improve image contrast, and reduce the specific absorption rate (SAR) of magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance spectroscopy instruments. The embodiments of the present invention can be used as an auxiliary device to the standard pre-constructed RF coils or incorporated with RF coil constructions for enhancing RF coil performances in both transmission and reception. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110152671 | MRI-CEST DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE BASED ON NON-PUNCTUAL ANALYSIS - An embodiment in the MRI-CEST field is proposed for analyzing a body-part, which includes a CEST agent providing a magnetization transfer with a bulk substrate of the body-part. A corresponding diagnostic system includes input means for providing an input map including a plurality of input elements each one for a corresponding location of the body-part; each input element is indicative of a spectrum of a magnetic response of the location, which spectrum includes the magnetic response at an agent frequency of resonance of the contrast agent (with the agent frequency that is at an agent offset of frequency from a bulk frequency of resonance of the bulk substance), and at a reference frequency at the opposite of the agent offset from the bulk frequency. The system further includes calculation means for calculating an agent value and a reference value for each one of a set of selected locations; the agent value is calculated according to the magnetic responses of the selected location in a non-punctual agent range of frequencies including the agent frequency, and the reference value is calculated according to the magnetic responses of the selected location in a non-punctual reference range of frequencies including the reference frequency (with the reference range that is symmetric to the agent range with respect to the bulk frequency). Comparison means is then provided for calculating a parametric value for each selected location; the parametric value is calculated according to a comparison between the agent value and the reference value of the selected location. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110166441 | Methods for Controlling Medical Fluid Injections - The present invention is directed to control of medical fluid injection systems. For instance, in some embodiments, an injection protocol may be initiated, and an actual flow rate of the medical fluid utilized in the injection protocol may be adjusted based, at least in part, on an inherent system elasticity of the injection system. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110178393 | Process for the Preparation of Aqueous Solutions of Hyperpolarized Molecules - The invention relates to a one-step process for the preparation of aqueous solutions of hyperpolarized molecules in which, in a single step, the said hyperpolarized molecules are separated from the crude solution by means of a fast phase-transfer extraction and isolated in an impurity-free aqueous solution, ready for use in the MRI diagnostic imaging of organs, region or tissues of the human or animal body. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110190623 | THERMALLY-ACTIVATABLE LIPOSOME COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR IMAGING, DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY - Disclosed are thermally-activatable liposomal compositions and methods for their use in the formulation and administration of therapeutic, prophylactic, and diagnostic agents. The disclosed liposome structures are capable of carrying a variety of biologically active reagents, and permitting their controlled release in vivo by exploiting properties of their thermoregulatable lability. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110208040 | MOLECULAR IMAGING - An imaging system includes a radiation source ( | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110237932 | Method of Operation for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Suite - A method of operation for a magnetic resonance imaging suite. A power supply of magnetic resonance injector system receives electrical power from an AC power outlet, both of which are located outside of a shielded room of the magnetic resonance imaging suite. Electrical power from the power supply of the magnetic resonance injector system is conveyed (via an appropriate power connection) into the shielded room of the magnetic resonance imaging suite and to a component (e.g., a power head) of the magnetic resonance injector system located inside the shielded room. While this electrical power is being conveyed, radio frequency energy emitted from the power connection is being filtered. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110245657 | LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS USING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DATA OBTAINED AT THREE TIME POINTS - A malignancy classification method and medium for diagnosing a region of lung tissue based on MRI data are disclosed. The classifying includes: setting time points T | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110251481 | Piezoelectrically-Driven Power Injector - A syringe plunger drive assembly ( | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110257514 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD FOR ESTIMATING A BRAIN SHIFT IN A PATIENT - The disclosure relates to an image processing method for estimating a brain shift in a patient, the method involving: the processing of a three-dimensional image of the brain of a patient, acquired before a surgical operation, in order to obtain a reference cerebral arterial tree structure of the patient; the processing of three-dimensional images of the brain of the patient, acquired during the operation, in order to at least partially reconstitute a current cerebral arterial tree structure of the patient; the determination from the combination of the reference and current cerebral arterial tree structures, of a field of shift of the vascular tree representing the shift of the current vascular tree in relation to the reference vascular tree; the application of the determined field of shift of the vascular tree to a biomechanical model of the brain of the patient in order to estimate the brain shift of the patient; and the generation, from the estimated brain shift, of at least one image of the brain of the patient, in which the brain shift is compensated. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110282185 | Gasket for Pre-Filled Syringe and Pre-Filled Syringe - The present invention relates to a gasket ( | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110288402 | MR IMAGING WITH CEST CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT - The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of at least a portion of a body of a patient placed in an examination volume of an MR device. The object of the invention is to improve CEST contrast enhanced imaging. The method of the invention comprises the following steps: a) saturation of nuclear magnetization of exchangeable protons of a CEST contrast agent administered to the patient by subjecting the portion of the body to at least one frequency-selective saturation RF pulse matched to the MR frequency of exchangeable protons of the CEST contrast agent, wherein the saturation period, i.e. the duration of the frequency-selective saturation RF pulse, is shorter than the time required for saturation to build up a full CEST contrast enhancement effect when starting from zero saturation; b) generating at least one MR signal of water protons of the body by subjecting the portion of the body to an MR imaging sequence comprising at least one RF pulse and switched magnetic field gradients; c) acquiring sampling the at least one MR signal from the body; d) repeating steps a) to c) a number of times under variation of parameters of the MR imaging sequence, wherein MR signals are acquired and sampled during a saturation build-up period, i.e. before a steady state of the CEST effect is achieved; e) reconstructing a proton-density weighted, CEST contrast-enhanced MR image from the acquired and sampled MR signals. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110313279 | QUANTITATIVE OXYGEN IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING ECHO-BASED SINGLE POINT IMAGING - An echo-based single point imaging (ESPI) system ( | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110319748 | Apparatus and Method for Cooling a Tissue Volume During Thermal Therapy Treatment - An apparatus for cooling certain tissues in the vicinity of diseased or other tissue undergoing thermal treatment is disclosed. The present apparatus is configured and designed to have certain physical characteristics, e.g., certain acoustic and imaging responses. In some embodiments the present apparatus is compatible with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environments used in conjunction with the thermal treatment, or other imaging environments. In some embodiments the present apparatus is detectable by said MRI and is within the imaging field of view (FOV) but causes few or no imaging artifacts. Additionally, the present apparatus does not substantially interfere with the thermal treatment, e.g., ultrasonic therapy, which can proceed to heat the targeted volume of tissue while protective cooling of tissues near the diseased tissue by the present apparatus takes place. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120041300 | METHOD FOR CONTRAST AGENT-FREE MAGNETIC RESONANCE COLONOGRAPHY - In a method for contrast agent-free magnetic resonance colonography, blood that flows into the bowel tissue is prepared automatically by radio-frequency pulses. Magnetic resonance data of the bowel are acquired while the prepared blood is located in the bowel, and a magnetic resonance image of the bowel is created from the magnetic resonance data. Bowel tissue regions and regions with bowel content are differentiated automatically on the basis of an increased contrast (caused by the preparation) between perfused tissue regions and regions of the gut lumen that are not perfused. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120078085 | Method of Analysis for Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Perfusion Imaging | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120095328 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER-ACCESSIBLE MEDIUM FOR UTILIZING CARDIAC OUTPUT TO IMPROVE MEASUREMENT OF TRACER INPUT FUNCTION IN DYNAMIC CONTRAST-ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Exemplary embodiments of method, system and computer-accessible medium according to the present disclosure can be provided for converting magnetic resonance (MR) arterial signal intensity versus time curves to arterial input functions (AIF) with less susceptibility to artifacts such as flow-related enhancement. Exemplary methods, systems and computer-accessible medium can be used to constrain AIF to satisfies the indicator dilution principle, according to which the area under an initial pass component of AIF can be equal to the injected dose divided by the cardiac output. For example, Monte Carlo simulations of MR renography and tumor perfusion protocols can be performed for comparison with conventional methods. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120101368 | MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSIS ASSISTING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Using a three-dimensional medical image representing a heart as input, a cardiac function analysis unit calculates a cardiac function evaluation value representing a cardiac function with respect to each of predetermined portions of the heart, using a three-dimensional medical image representing the heart as input, a myocardial infarction analysis unit calculates a myocardial infarction rate representing a degree of myocardial infarction with respect to each of predetermined portions of the heart, and a superimposed image output unit outputs a superimposed image representing the cardiac function evaluation value and the myocardial infarction rate in a superimposing manner such that they are distinguishable from each other in a coordinate system capable of representing each position of the heart in the three-dimensional medical image. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120123247 | Systems And Methods For Measuring And Modeling In Vivo Manganese Ion Transport In A Subject - Described herein are systems and methods for quantitatively measuring manganese ion efflux in a subject. In general, the systems and methods compare imaging data from a subject taken over specific periods of time to pharmacokinetic models in order to measure manganese ion efflux rates from an organ in a subject. By understanding the specific location and rate of manganese ion efflux and influx from the organ, it is possible to more accurately correlate calcium ion activity. Calcium ion efflux is associated with a number of biological mechanisms in the subject, and the methods and systems described herein can be used as a diagnostic tool not only for monitoring calcium efflux in the subject but also aid in the treatment of diseases associated with changes in calcium ion efflux. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120136241 | Multi-Modality Nanoparticles Having Optically Responsive Shape - In certain embodiments novel nanoparticles (nanowontons) are provided that are suitable for multimodal imaging and/or therapy. In one embodiment, the nanoparticles include a first biocompatible (e.g., gold) layer, an inner core layer (e.g., a non-biocompatible material), and a biocompatible (e.g., gold) layer. The first gold layer includes a concave surface that forms a first outer surface of the layered nanoparticle. The second gold layer includes a convex surface that forms a second outer surface of the layered nanoparticle. The first and second gold layers encapsulate the inner core material layer. Methods of fabricating such nanoparticles are also provided. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120157823 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT AND FOR LOCALIZATION OF A CATHETER - The present invention relates to apparatus ( | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120157824 | MRI AND OPTICAL ASSAYS FOR PROTEASES - The present invention provides multifunctional nanoplatforms for assessing the activity of a protease in vivo or in vitro, along with methods of imaging and detecting the presence of cancerous or precancerous tissues, and the therapeutic treatment thereof, including monitoring of treatment. The diagnostic nanoplatforms comprise nanoparticles and are linked to each other or other particles via an oligopeptide linkage that comprises a consensus sequence specific for the target protease. Cleavage of the sequence by the target protease can be detected using various sensors, and the diagnostic results can be correlated with cancer prognosis. Individual unlinked nanoplatforms are also adaptable for therapeutic hyperthermia treatment of the cancerous tissue. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120165655 | METHOD FOR GENERATING POSITION DATA OF AN INSTRUMENT - A method for generating position data of an instrument ( | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120179028 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER PERMEABILITY TO WATER - A method is provided for measuring a permeability of a subject's blood-brain barrier to water. The method includes acquiring, with an magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system, a first T | 07-12-2012 |
| 20120220858 | IMAGING-BASED DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR QUANTIFYING CEREBRAL VASCULAR RESERVE - In one aspect of the disclosure, an MRI-based system includes an MRI scanner having a first axis and a first plane perpendicular to the first axis, a pulse sequence module configured to provide a 3D pulse sequence to the MRI scanner, and a control module configured to instruct the MRI scanner to conduct radial k-space samples having N second planes that each are perpendicular to the first plane and through which the first axis passes, N being an integer greater than 1. The 3D pulse sequence instructs the MRI scanner to a radio-frequency (RF) pulse, conduct a gradient readout in the first plane, and conduct a gradient readout in one of the N second planes. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120238865 | Method for Measuring the Physiological Parameters of Brain Interstitial Fluid and Brain Extracellular Space - The invention would provide a method of measuring the physiological parameters of brain interstitial fluid (ISF) and brain extracellular space (ECS). The method is available to obtain the extract physiological parameters of the substances distributing, diffusing and eliminating in the brain ECS. The details are as follows: The head of the object was settled in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)system; the MRI contrast agent was injected into brain ISF; the signal intensity changed by the MRI contrast agents was detected on MR images; the distribution of the contrast agents in the brain can be quantitatively analyzed by the signal intensity the concentration of contrast agents and its time-dependent change of the different brain regions can be acquired. The invention can be feasible to quantify the indexes of the brain ISF distribution, fluidity and dissemination in the cerebral ECS by the signal intensity on MR images. The indexes including the anatomical and physiological parameters of the brain ISF and cerebral ECS can also be extracted by the invention. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120253179 | MULTIPLE CONTRAST AGENT INJECTION FOR IMAGING - MRI based molecular imaging is strongly supported by the accurate quantification of contrast agents. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, contrast agent is applied on the basis of a multiple injection application scheme, during which changes in relaxation rate are determined. This may provide for an accurate determination of rumor vascularity via MRI relaxometry. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120259205 | METHOD AND COMPOSITION FOR HYPERTHERMALLY TREATING CELLS - A method and composition for hyperthermally treating tumor cells in a patient under conditions that affect tumor stem cells and tumor cells. In one embodiment, the method provides a synergetic effect with chemotherapy. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120271158 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO GENERATE MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY IMAGES - In a magnetic (MR) method and apparatus to generate an MR angiography image of a vascular structure of an examination region, spins in the examination region are saturated by an RF saturation pulse to cause these spins to produce a lower signal intensity in the angiography image than spins that flow from a major artery via a feed artery into the examination region, which are not saturated by the RF saturation pulse. A saturation volume is established that is saturated by the RF saturation pulse in order to be able to depict substantially all the vascular structure, such that the major artery and the tissue surrounding the major artery are not situated at the level of the branching of the feed artery in the saturation volume. The MR angiography image is generated using the established saturation volume. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120271159 | CEST Phase and Magnitude Imaging Using a Multi-Parametric Varied Saturation Scheme - An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method for obtaining a magnetic resonance image (MRI) or spectrum. The method includes a step of performing a chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) or magnetization transfer (MT) magnetic labeling experiment of a subject using an MRI machine. When performing the CEST or MT magnetic labeling experiment aspects of a saturation pulse or a serial saturation pulse sequence, such as length (t | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120277573 | ULTRASOUND-ACTIVATED NANOPARTICLES AS IMAGING AGENTS AND DRUG DELIVERY VEHICLES - The invention provides nanoparticles for delivery of imaging agents, drugs, and other molecules, such as genetic material. The nanoparticles have a core structure comprising the imaging agent and/or drug, and a shell structure that allows for water solubility. The shell structure further provides a barrier with limited water permeability that protects the core. The nanoparticles can be induced to release their cargo by treatment with ultrasound. Methods of delivering drugs and imaging agents are also provided, whereby the nanoparticles are delivered to tissues of interest in a substantially inert form, then activated using ultra-sound to release the drugs or imaging agents. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120323112 | NANOPARTICLES FOR ACCOUSTIC IMAGING, METHODS OF MAKING, AND METHODS OF ACCOUSTIC IMAGING - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for nanoparticles for acoustic imaging, methods of using the nanoparticles, methods of imaging a condition, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure include nanoparticles (e.g., silica nanoparticles) that can be used to image, detect, study, monitor, evaluate, and/or screen a sample or subject (e.g., whole-body or a portion thereof). | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120330132 | Device for the Delineation of Cardiovascular or Other Anatomical Structures - A method and device for delineating structures includes a catheter for insertion at the structure, an expandable component operatively having proximal, distal and intermediate segments shiftable between a collapsed state and an expanded state, with the intermediate segment shiftable independently of the proximal and distal segments. A marking medium is carried by a portion of the intermediate segment, and the marking medium detectable using a selected imaging device. The marking medium is arranged to be transferable from the intermediate segment to portions of the cardiovascular structure upon shifting the intermediate segment to the expanded position with the intermediate segment in the desired position. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20120330133 | NONSURGICAL DETERMINATION OF ORGAN TRANSPLANT CONDITION - A Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetic sensor system and method can image organic transplant condition, such as status, acceptance, or rejection, in-vivo. This represents a major advane in transplant imaging technology with a new market for biomagnetic sensor devices. In-vivo transplant condition determination provides a greater range of imaging methodologies over existing methods in sensitivity, and enables early detection of rejection with the ability to determine the need for anti-rejection drugs. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130006099 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR METABOLIC IMAGING - The present embodiments disclose the preparation of hyperpolarized | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130023755 | Syringe Products and Related Methods and Uses - A syringe product comprises a syringe barrel having a fluid-containment wall made using a polymer composition comprising a metallocene polypropylene polymer and an oganophosphate clarifier. The syringe product may be prefilled with an injectable medical formulation prior to use. The syringe product may be used to administer an injectable medical formulation to a patient. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130046171 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING AND TREATING DUCTS OF MAMMARY GLANDS - This application relates to a device for the local delivery of a substance to a mammary duct by ductal cannulation via an orifice on a nipple, wherein the substance may any substance or combinations of substances, such as for example, compositions capable of forming a solid or semisolid gel within the ducts, a marker, and/or an active agent which is preferably effective in treating and/or preventing breast cancer. More particularly, a device is disclosed comprising a probe for locating the orifice on the nipple, wherein the device is further configured to cannulate the duct and allow local delivery of a substance(s). | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130079626 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED DYNAMIC CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT IMAGING - Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for automating the acquisition and analysis of contrast enhancement images. Model-free discrimination methods are provided in which discrimination between well-perfused pixels (e.g. normal tissue) and perfusion-deficient pixels (e.g. ablation lesions) is automated based on histogram shape. For example, in selected embodiments, discrimination is made based on pixels corresponding to abnormal perfusion (e.g. ablation lesions) and normal perfusion (e.g. normal tissue) form distinctive lobes separated by a minimum formed due to the presence of border pixels. Segmentation of cumulative dynamic contrast enhancement maps by thresholds identified on such histograms is employed to separate abnormally-perfused tissue from the normally-perfused tissue without any user interactions, freeing the user from the necessity to analyze and interpret original dynamic contrast enhancement images or maps derived from them. The histogram properties can also be used for automatic termination of the image acquisition and analysis processes. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130096420 | Process For Preparing Hyperpolarized Substrates And Method For MRI - The present invention generally relates to a process for the preparation of aqueous solutions of hyperpolarized molecules ready for use in in-vivo MR diagnostic imaging, the use thereof as MRI contrast agent in investigation methods for producing diagnostic MR images of a human or non-human animal body organ, region or tissue. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130102885 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS, MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD AND IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a memory, a specifying unit, and a display controller. The memory stores a corresponding color table representing correspondence relationships between T1 values of which value ranges with respect to each tissue are known and colors to be assigned to pixels with the T1 values. The specifying unit analyzes a T1-valued image and specifies colors to be assigned to each pixel on the basis of T1 values converted from pixel values of each pixel and the corresponding color table. The display controller displays on a display the image color-coded with the specified colors. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130116547 | Measurement of Anaplerotic Flux by Hyperpolarization Transfer - Methods and composition for metabolic imaging are provided. For example, in certain aspects, methods for hyperpolarization transfer combined with hyperpolarization are provided. Furthermore, the invention provides methods for detecting magnetic resonance signals for biological processes such as anaplerosis. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130150706 | COMPARTMENTAL ANALSYS SYSTEM, COMPARTMENTAL ANALYSIS METHOD, COMPARTMENT ANALYZER, PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - One object of the present invention is to perform compartmental analysis of the dynamics of a tracer in the brain, and the present invention provides a compartmental analysis system including a measurement apparatus that measures the strength of an electromagnetic wave from a tracer and a compartmental analyzer that performs compartmental analysis of the dynamics of the tracer in the brain on the basis of the strength of the electromagnetic wave, wherein the compartmental analyzer includes a rate constant calculation unit that calculates a rate constant when the tracer moves between compartments on the basis of the strength of an electromagnetic wave in a first compartment corresponding to the cerebral blood vessel in the brain or an input function in the first compartment, the strength of an electromagnetic wave in a second compartment corresponding to the brain tissue in the brain, and the strength of an electromagnetic wave in a third compartment corresponding to the cerebral sulcus or cerebral ventricle in the brain. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130150707 | IMPLANTABLE MAGNETIC RELAXATION SENSORS AND METHODS OF MEASURING A SENSOR'S CUMULATIVE EXPOSURE TO A BIOMARKER - An implantable magnetic relaxation sensor is provided that comprises superparamagnetic nanoparticies functionalized with one or more agents that bond with a biomarker of interest. The sensor is configured for minimally-invasive implantation into a human or animal, and is configured to indicate the implanted sensor's cumulative exposure to the biomarker of interest by analysis using magnetic resonance relaxometry. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130178734 | METHOD FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING USING SATURATION HARMONIC INDUCED ROTARY SATURATION - A system and method for producing an image of a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging system, in which the image depicts an image contrast indicative of rotary saturation produced in response to magnetic particles administered to the subject, are provided. An agent that includes magnetic particles is administered to the subject. An electromagnetic drive field is applied to the subject at a drive frequency so that the magnetic particles produce magnetic fields that oscillate at the drive frequency and harmonics thereof. A spin-lock field is then established at a spin-lock frequency that is a harmonic of the drive frequency in order to produce rotary saturation of nuclear spins affected by the magnetic fields produced by the magnetic particles. Image data is then acquired from the subject using the MRI system, from which an image of the subject that depicts an image contrast indicative of the produced rotary saturation is reconstructed. | 07-11-2013 |
| 20130184565 | Hyperpolarization Apparatus And Method For Administration Of A Hyperpolarized Liquid Contrast Agent - A hyperpolarized liquid contrast agent is for use in a MRT device. The liquid contrast agent passes through a conduit of a MW resonator in the magnetic field of the MRT device. A microwave with a frequency of at least 40 GHz couples into the MW resonator for polarizing the liquid contrast agent upon passage through the conduit in the MW resonator using DNP. The contrast agent is polarized in a continuous passage in the MW resonator and administered immediately. A MW mode is formed in the MW resonator which has an antinode in the magnetic field strength and a node in the electric field strength. The power of the introduced microwave and coupling of the microwave into the resonator are adjusted such that in the area of the line, an amplitude of the MW magnetic field strength B | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130211239 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CONCEPTS - A method for producing multiple temporal frames of a time-resolved contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiogram from a subject using an MR contrast agent by repeatedly applying RF pulses and sampling data in the corresponding image k-space along spiral trajectories that start at the k-space center and spiral outward toward the k-space edge. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130211240 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment is a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that performs a contrast medium imaging, comprising a time management part that measures and manages a lapse time after injection of a contrast medium, a setting part that sets a start time of a second-half imaging in the form of a lapse time after injection of contrast medium, the second-half imaging being performed a predetermined idle time after a first-half imaging and the first-half imaging being performed after injection of the contrast medium, and a display part that displays at least the lapse time measured by the time management part and the start time set by the setting part. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130225977 | Methods and Devices for Delivery of Compositions to Conduits - The present invention comprises systems, methods and devices for the delivery of visualizable or treatment compositions or therapeutic agents comprising device elements for diagnosis and/or treatment of conduits. A delivery system comprising an introducer shaft having at least one exit port sad at least one delivery catheter tor placement of compositions into the conduit, such as a fallopian tube. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130225978 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM, COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SENDING CONTROL MESSAGES TO AN ANESTHESIA SYSTEM - A magnetic resonance imaging system ( | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130225979 | COLON SCREENING BY USING MAGNETIC PARTICLE IMAGING - The present invention relates to a method for colon screening by using Magnetic Particle Imaging comprising the steps of: (a) generating an imaging magnetic field with a spatial distribution of the magnetic field strength such that the area of examination in the colon consists of a first sub-area of the colon with lower magnetic field strength, where the magnetization of a magnetic particle which was pre-delivered to the colon is not saturated, and a second sub-area of the colon with a higher magnetic field strength, where the magnetization of said magnetic particle is saturated; (b) changing the spatial location of both sub-areas in the area of examination so that the magnetization of said particles changes locally; (c) acquiring signals that depend on the magnetization in the area of examination influenced by this change; and (d) evaluating said signals to obtain information about the spatial distribution of the signals in the area of examination. The area of examination in the colon preferably comprises a portion or segment of the colon and steps (a) to (c) may be carried out during an entire peristaltic cycle in said colon portion or segment. The present invention further relates to a corresponding method for collecting data, the use of a magnetic particle for colon screening via Magnetic Particle Imaging, a food stuff or liquid for in vivo diagnostic use comprising a magnetic particle, and a method for preparing a patient for colon screening by using Magnetic Particle Imaging. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130237808 | FLUID DRIVEN MEDICAL INJECTORS - Some injectors of the invention may include a fluid drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid (e.g., liquid, pneumatic, or both) to impart a sequence of forces to drive a delivery device (e.g., a syringe) to deliver a medical fluid (e.g., a contrast agent, a radiopharmaceutical, a drug, or a combination thereof). Some injectors may include a multimedia tube configured to pass a working fluid (e.g., air) and a light signal (e.g., infrared). Some injectors may include a peristaltic drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130253308 | TECHNIQUES, SYSTEMS AND MACHINE READABLE PROGRAMS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE - The present disclosure provides various methods and systems for performing magnetic resonance studies. In accordance with many embodiments, image or other information of interest is derived from super radiant pulses. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130274592 | TIME-RESOLVED EARLY-TO-LATE GADOLINIUM ENHANCEMENT MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A method for acquiring a volumetric scan from at least a portion of a body of a subject suspected of exhibiting an observable manifestation of a disease or adverse health condition comprises, with the aid of a radio frequency (RF) source of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, applying a first RF pulse to the at least the portion of a body of the subject. A detector coil of the MRI system can then detect magnetic resonance (MR) signals from the at least the portion of the body of the subject. The MR signals can be detected upon a time delay subsequent to the application of the first RF pulse. The MR signals can be stored in a memory location as non-Cartesian data in k-space. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130281831 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED ACCELERATED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING USING ROI MASKING - A system and method for creating at least one angiographic image using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes acquiring, with the MRI system and using parallel imaging techniques, a pre-contrast image data set and a post-contrast image data set of a portion of a subject having a vascular structure extending therethrough and subtracting the pre-contrast and the post-contrast image data set to generate a difference angiogram data set. The method includes reconstructing the difference angiogram data set into at least one aliased angiogram, creating a region of interest (ROI) mask from an image of the portion of the subject, and indicating a masking border surrounding the vascular structure and substantially excluding tissues surrounding the vascular structure. The method then includes de-aliasing the at least one aliased angiogram using the ROI mask to create an angiogram of the portion of the subject. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20130289388 | POST-BIOPSY CAVITY TREATMENT IMPLANTS AND METHODS - An embodiment of a post-biopsy cavity treatment implant includes a first portion including a first porous matrix defining a first controlled pore architecture or crosslinking density, and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion includes a second porous matrix that defines a second controlled pore architecture or a second crosslinking density that is different from the first controlled pore architecture or the first crosslinking density, causing the second portion to swell in a different manner than the first portion when the implant is placed in an aqueous environment. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130317349 | IMAGING AGENTS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - The present invention relates to compositions and methods useful in connection with magnetic resonance imaging. In various embodiments, the invention employs the PASADENA polarization technique to prepare contrast agents that target complementary molecules in the body and/or that are processed through predetermined, natural metabolic pathways. The invention includes methods of using the contrast agents and kits including the same. In one embodiment, a diagnostic and prognostic method relating to Alzheimer's disease is described. Further embodiments relate to medical devices including the contrast agents. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130317350 | USE OF MAGNETIC VORTEX CORES IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND TUMOR TREATMENT - Disclosed are a method for enhancing contrast of magnetic resonance imaging and a method for treating tumor. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130338489 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF VENTILATION AND PERFUSION IN THE LUNG - Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed for implementing a fully quantitative non-injectable contrast proton MRI technique to measure spatial ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) matching and spatial distribution of ventilation and perfusion. In one aspect, a method using MRI to characterize ventilation and perfusion in a lung includes acquiring an MR image of the lung having MR data in a voxel and obtaining a breathing frequency parameter, determining a water density value, a specific ventilation value, and a perfusion value in at least one voxel of the MR image based on the MR data and using the water density value to determine an air content value, and determining a ventilation-perfusion ratio value that is the product of the specific ventilation value, the air content value, the inverse of the perfusion value, and the breathing frequency. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20130345548 | Apparatus and Method to Determine Contrast Media Injection Parameters to Control Signal Intensity During Magnetic Resonance Angiography - Injection systems and related methods including an injection device, an operator interface, and modules to determine operational parameters during an MRA imaging procedure. Such parameters may be used to optimize and/or maximize signal intensity during an MRA imaging procedure. The injection system may include a target in-bloodstream contrast agent concentration determination module that determines a target in-bloodstream contrast agent concentration at least partially based on contrast agent type and MRA imager parameters. The injection system may include a contrast agent injection rate determination module that determines a contrast agent injection rate at least partially based on the target in-bloodstream contrast agent concentration, an initial contrast agent concentration, and a cardiac output rate of a patient to be imaged. The injection system may include a diluent injection rate determination module that determines a diluent injection rate at least partially based on the contrast agent injection rate. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140012129 | Field cycling method for magnetic resonance - An NMR experiment on hyperpolarizable magnetic nuclei of substrate molecules in a living human or animal body, involves polarizing the substrate molecules by non-hydrogenating para-hydrogen induced polarization (=NH-PHIP) into a singlet/pseudo singlet state in low magnetic field and injecting the substrate molecules into the living body, the body or a part thereof being previously located inside a magnet at low magnetic field. The magnet is switched on to high magnetic field, and in at least part of the substrate molecules, the singlet state/pseudo singlet state is converted into observable magnetisation. An MRI or MRS measurement is carried out with the living body or the part thereof, collecting data from the substrate molecules. The NMR experiment is well applicable on hyperpolarized nuclei within a patient, with reduced losses of magnetization due to relaxation processes. | 01-09-2014 |
| 20140039300 | Dynamic MR Imaging of Patients with Breast Cancer - Establishment and Comparison of Different Analytical Methods for Tissue Perfusion and Capillary Permeability - The present invention encompasses methods, apparatus, and computer based systems for identifying benign and malignant tumors in tissues such as soft tissues and particularly breast tissue using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imagining (DCE-MRI) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DSC) imagining of the tumors. Some embodiments encompass the use of two dynamic MRI pulse sequences in intercalating mode during parenteral administration of an MR contrast substance, wherein one of said pulse sequences is optimized for spatial information and the other pulse sequence is adjusted for high temporal solution, the high-temporal dissolved sequence further comprising a double echo-collection sensitive towards both DCE and DSC for generating a number of different biomarker data such as pharmacokinetic biomarker data, descriptive DCE biomarkers and descriptive DSC biomarkers, and subsequently normalizing and comparing said data with corresponding data from corresponding benign and malign tumors, respectively. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140051981 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF TUMOR ACTIVITY USING TUMOR INTERSTITIAL FLUID PRESSURE - A scanning apparatus, is used to effect multiple images of a tumor in which a contrast agent has been localized as a detectable marker over a selected time to map the change in the imaged marker. The rate of change in the imaged marker and/or contrast intensity of the dyed tissues is used to assess tumor aggressiveness and as an early predictor of response to cancer therapy. In particular, following the marking of tumor or cancerous tissues by the initial localization of an imageable contrast agent, the rate of change in the volume and/or area of the imaged marker is used to provide an indication of tumor interstitial fluid pressure (TIFP). | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140058249 | METHOD AND APPARATUS USING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FOR CANCER IDENTIFICATION - Embodiments provide a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique and optionally software—collectively referred to as the “shutter-speed” model—to analyze image data of cancer patients. Embodiments provide a minimally invasive, yet precisely accurate, approach to determining whether tumors are malignant or benign by distinguishing the characteristics of contrast reagent activity in benign and malignant tumors. Exemplary embodiments provide MRI measured biomarkers for tumor malignancy determination, effectively eliminating or limiting the false positives suffered by existing MRI techniques. | 02-27-2014 |
| 20140066751 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING SIZE AND SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES USING VSM MAGNETIZATION DATA - A method and apparatus for performing accurate measurements of the magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in both liquid media and biological matrices for providing information on their size, size distribution and concentration in these media and matrices and, resulting in parameters that influence their functionality and effectiveness. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140066752 | Methods and Systems for Using Therapeutic, Diagnostic or Prophylactic Magnetic Agents - Systems and methods are disclosed for directing magnetizable particles comprising therapeutic agents to a target volume, or for guiding magnetizable particles comprising therapeutic agents from a first target volume to a second target volume, at a distance using a magnetic field, to enable the treatment of diseased areas including areas deep inside a patient's body. The methods may be used to diagnose or treat diseased areas within a patient, for example tumors of the lungs, intestines, and liver, and is also useful in enhancing the permeability of solid tumors to chemotherapeutic agents. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140088408 | PHAGE ANTIBODIES TO RADIATION-INDUCIBLE NEOANTIGENS - A method for identifying a molecule that binds an irradiated tumor in a subject and molecules identified thereby. The method includes the steps of: (a) exposing a tumor to ionizing radiation; (b) administering to a subject a library of diverse molecules; and (c) isolating from the tumor one or more molecules of the library of diverse molecules, whereby a molecule that binds an irradiated tumor is identified. Also provided are therapeutic and diagnostic methods using targeting ligands that bind an irradiated tumor. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140107469 | Dynamic MR Imaging of Patients with Breast Cancer -- Establishment and Comparison of Different Analytical Methods for Tissue Perfusion and Capillary Permeability - The present invention encompasses methods, apparatus, and computer based systems for identifying benign and malignant tumors in tissues such as soft tissues and particularly breast tissue using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imagining (DCE-MRI) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DSC) imagining of the tumors. Some embodiments encompass the use of two dynamic MRI pulse sequences in intercalating mode during parenteral administration of an MR contrast substance, wherein one of said pulse sequences is optimized for spatial information and the other pulse sequence is adjusted for high temporal solution, the high-temporal dissolved sequence further comprising a double echo-collection sensitive towards both DCE and DSC for generating a number of different biomarker data such as pharmacokinetic biomarker data, descriptive DCE biomarkers and descriptive DSC biomarkers, and subsequently normalizing and comparing said data with corresponding data from corresponding benign and malign tumors, respectively. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140142417 | System and Method for Assessing Susceptibility of Tissue Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging - A system and method for assessing magnetic susceptibility of tissue of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire chemical-shift-encoded, water-fat separated data. From the water-fat separated data, separated water and fat images, as well as a magnetic field inhomogeneity map are used to estimate the magnetic susceptibility within tissue. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140148687 | MICROBUBBLE MEDICAL DEVICES - Method and medical devices for generating and stabilizing micro or nano bubbles, and systems and methods for therapeutic applications using the bubbles, is provided. Two novel bubble generating means are provided: in-line capillary tubes and mix chambers flow focusing, and cross flow bubble generation with optimized bubble detachment means. A method and medical device to stabilize bubble sizes and improve bubble size homogeneity through rectified diffusion is disclosed. A method and system to facilitate acoustic activation of therapeutic agents using ultrasound energy is provided. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140200437 | DETECTION OF INTERNAL GAS LEAKAGE - A method placing a gas into a first cavity of a patient, where the gas includes hyperpolarized 3-Helium (3-He). At least a portion of the patient is imaged using MRI to detect the gas within the patient. Based at least in part on the imaging, a determination is made regarding whether at least a portion of the gas is present in a second cavity of the patient. Presence of the gas in the second cavity is indicative of a leakage of the first cavity. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140206984 | PERICARDIAL SPACE IMAGING FOR CARDIAC SUPPORT DEVICE IMPLANTATION - A method for implanting a cardiac support device (CSD) on a patient's heart. An amount of contrast agent sufficient to cause structures on the heart to be visible upon fluoroscopic or other imaging is introduced into the pericardial space surrounding the heart. The heart and contrast agent are imaged to provide a visual indication of the location of the structures of the heart. The CSD is placed on the heart using the visual indications provided by the imaging. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140257085 | Process For The Preparation Of Hyperpolarized Derivatives For Use In MRI Analysis - The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of aqueous solutions of hyperpolarized carboxylic organic acids ready for use in in-vivo MR diagnostic imaging, and the use of the corresponding anhydrides or esters as glass-forming agents. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140275977 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VISUALIZING FLUID ENHANCED ABLATION THERAPY - Systems and methods for visualizing fluid enhanced ablation therapy are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for ablating tissue is provided that includes inserting an elongate body into a tissue volume, heating an imageable fluid within the elongate body to transform the imageable fluid into an imageable therapeutic fluid, delivering the imageable therapeutic fluid into the tissue volume to deliver a therapeutic dose of thermal energy to the tissue volume, and imaging the tissue volume to determine the extent of the tissue volume containing the imageable therapeutic fluid. The imageable therapeutic fluid can indicate the extent of the tissue volume that has received the therapeutic dose of thermal energy. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140288411 | GAS VESICLE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CONTRAST AGENTS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - Magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents that include a plurality of gas vesicles configured to associate with a noble gas are provided. Also provided are magnetic resonance imaging methods that include administering to a subject a contrast agent that includes a plurality of gas vesicles, obtaining a magnetic resonance data of a target site of interest, and analyzing the data to produce a magnetic resonance image of the target site. The subject contrast agents and methods find use in magnetic resonance imaging applications. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140303488 | System and Method for Determining Size and Size Distribution of Magnetic Nanoparticles Using VSM Magnetization Data - A method and apparatus for performing accurate measurements of the magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in both liquid media and biological matrices for providing information on their size, size distribution and concentration in these media and matrices and, resulting in parameters that influence their functionality and effectiveness. | 10-09-2014 |
| 20140330110 | PROTON DECOUPLED HYPERPOLARIZED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A system and method for improving available signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and speed of MR imaging of hyperpolarized substances is disclosed. The system and method include decoupling spin effects of hydrogen nuclei from non-hydrogen nuclei of interest during sampling of MR signals therefrom. Though the hydrogen nuclei of the hyperpolarized substance may not be directly bonded to the non-hydrogen nuclei of interest, resonance splitting may still impact SNR. Long range decoupling improves T2* time, and thus preserves signal strength and available SNR. | 11-06-2014 |
| 20140364724 | METHOD AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS FOR IMAGE ACQUISITION CONTROL WITH ADMINISTRATION OF CONTRAST AGENT - In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus to acquire diagnostic image data of a contrast agent-filled target area of a patient, a peak time of the test bolus in the target area is automatically determined, from which a wait period is then determined for administering the main bolus. After the main bolus has been administered to the patient, magnetic resonance images of the target area are acquired, and each is analyzed immediately after acquisition thereof to determine whether that image shows arrival of the contrast agent. If and when one of these images shows such arrival, an acquisition protocol is immediately started in order to acquire the diagnostic image data set. If none of these images shows arrival of the contrast agent, the protocol to acquire diagnostic image data is started after the wait period. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20150065865 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BLOOD BRAIN PERMEABILITY IMAGING (BBPI) USING DYNAMIC SUSCEPTIBILITY CONTRAST MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A system and method for generating dynamic susceptibility contrast information from medical imaging data acquired using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and from a subject having received a dose of a contrast agent. A plurality of images are acquired of the subject. Using the images, an arrival time correction (ATC) is determined that includes a value for at least one of a time shift variable, a time stretch variable, and an amplitude scale variable. The ATC is applied to a model of dynamic susceptibility contrast that relates a measure of signal change over time with a correction term to dynamic susceptibility contrast information to create a corrected model of dynamic susceptibility contrast including the ATC. At least one contrast agent concentration curve is generated from the plurality of images using the corrected model. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150099964 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIFFERENTIATION OF NORMAL MYOCARDIUM FROM DIFFUSE DISEASE USING T1 MAPPING IN NON-ISCHEMIC CARDIOMYOPATHIES AND OTHERS - A method for differentiation of normal myocardium from diffuse disease using T mapping includes acquiring one or more images of a patient by an imaging apparatus, generating a T1 map from the one or more images, defining a region of interest within the one or more images, determining the average T1 value within the region of interest, comparing the average T1 value within the region of interest to a cut-off T1 value, and determining a diagnosis of the region of interest from the comparison. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150119697 | COMPUTER AIDED DIAGNOSTIC METHOD AND DEVICE - A method for characterizing regions on a map or image generated from diffusion image data of a region of a patient's body, including: loading into a data processing device image data achieved by calculation from MR diffusion imaging; providing a first threshold level to distinguish pixels with image data values that are above or below the values found that are not representative of pathological portions of the region; providing a second threshold level higher than the first threshold; deriving a measure related to the gradient pattern of those pixels that lie within a margin zone defined by those pixels that satisfy a criterion of the second threshold but do not satisfy a criterion of the first threshold and; outputting the measure related to the gradient as a parameter indicative of the likelihood that the pixels that are within the margin zone and/or a region of the body part are cancerous. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150119698 | Compositions Comprising Near-Infrared Fluorescent Particles And Uses Thereof For Imaging Activated Immune Cells In the CNS - Pharmaceutical composition including nanoparticles configured for enhanced phagocytosis by phagocytic cells and labeled with a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe bound to the outer surface thereof, and uses thereof in the detection of activated immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS) of a subject. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150133768 | USE OF NON-METALLIC CEST AGENTS FOR MRI MONITORING OF NANOPARTICLE DELIVERY - The present invention includes drug-loaded, polymer nanoparticles and liposomes further incorporating a non-paramagnetic, bioorganic CEST agent. The CEST agent allows for an alternative approach to accomplish MR-compatible in vivo tracking of drug-loaded polymer nanoparticles and liposomes, including simultaneous multi-color mapping of more than one particle type, or of the same particle type delivered via two different routes (e.g., systemic versus local). Additionally, the present invention can include a library of biodegradable diamagnetic (DIA)CEST agents. These DIACEST agents can be incorporated into nanoparticle-based delivery systems, such as stealth liposomes loaded with doxorubicin and stealth polymer nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel. These systems can be tracked, according to an embodiment of the present invention using CEST-based MRI (compared to SPECT/CT) as a method to monitor the efficiency with which the nanoparticles reach the targeted tumors and how long they persist. Measured particle persistence times are also used to guide the spacing between doses. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150133769 | LABELED COMPOUNDS AND METHODS OF IMAGING, DIAGNOSING CARTILAGE DISORDERS AND DISEASES, AND MONITORING CARTILAGE HEALTH USING LABELED AND UNLABELED COMPOUNDS - Novel labeled compounds and metabolites thereof are disclosed, as well as pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of using the labeled and unlabeled compounds, and specifically, 2-Amino-5-guanidino-pentanoic acid (3-{4-[3-(2-amino-5-guanidino-pentanoylamino)-propyl]-piperazin-1-yl}-propyl)-amide and metabolites thereof, for imaging, detecting and assessing disorders and diseases, such as arthritis and, more specifically, osteoarthritis by tracking proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan content of cartilage. Also, pharmaceutical compositions comprising labeled and/or unlabeled 1,4-Bis(3-aminopropyl)piperazine are disclosed and methods of using the same. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150141805 | MARKER DELIVERY DEVICE WITH RELEASABLE PLUG - A marker delivery device includes an elongated delivery cannula which has a distal end section, an inner lumen and a discharge opening in the distal end section in communication with the inner lumen. A plunger is slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery cannula. The plunger has a distal end. At least one elongated fibrous marker body is pre-formed prior to being inserted into the inner lumen of the elongated delivery cannula. The at least one elongated fibrous marker body is slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery cannula at a location distal to the distal end of the plunger. The pre-formed at least one elongated fibrous marker body includes a fibrous material compressed and impregnated with a binding agent and freeze dried in the compressed condition. A releasable plug is disposed within a distal portion of the inner lumen and distal to the at least one elongated fibrous marker body. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150148661 | System And Apparatus For Porously-Encapsulated Magnetic-Nanoparticle Biosensors - A system for measuring analyte concentrations has porous-walled nanocontainers containing multiple magnetic nanoparticles, the magnetic nanoparticles coated with a selective binder that is analyte-responsive and binds a the analyte, an indicator substance releasable from the selective binder by the analyte, or an indicator substance cleavable by the analyte, apparatus for exposing the nanocontainers to a fluid potentially containing the analyte, and magnetic spectroscopy of Brownian motion sensing apparatus for detecting agglutination of the nanoparticles or binding of analyte to the nanoparticles. The system is used in a method comprising coating magnetic nanoparticles with a selective binder, encapsulating the magnetic nanoparticles in porous nanocontainers, exposing the nanocontainers to a fluid potentially containing analyte, using magnetic spectroscopy of Brownian motion sensing apparatus to detect agglutination or binding of the nanoparticles, and translating Brownian motion spectra to analyte concentrations. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150148662 | Technique for Determining Blood Velocity in a Blood Vessel - A method and a system for determining a blood velocity between a first point and a second point in a blood vessel are presented. In the method, a time series of registered images of the blood vessel are received and subsequently scanned to select a base image and a test image. The base image corresponds to a begin time that represents a time instance when a contrast agent reached the first point. The test image corresponds to an end time that represents a time instance when the contrast agent reached the second point. A time elapsed between the begin time and the end time is determined. A length of the blood vessel is determined. The blood velocity is calculated by comparing the length of the blood vessel and the elapsed time. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150290388 | CATHETER FOR VASCULAR IMAGING, METHOD OF IMAGING, AND METHOD FOR INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURE USING THE CATHETER - A catheter for cardiac imaging, a method of imaging and a method of conducting an interventional procedure using the catheter is disclosed, where the catheter includes a tube with one or more openings for releasing an intravenous contrast agent, and an inflatable cuff holding a portion of the tube. The inflatable cuff includes a dorsal surface, and a ventral surface, where the ventral surface has a hollow compartment, an inner edge and an outer edge. The inflatable cuff functions as a seal to prevent an extrusion of an intravenous contrast agent supplied through one or more openings, in a dorsal direction. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150297160 | Estimating Pharmacokinetic Parameters in Imaging - A method of estimating a parameter of physiological significance in the central nervous system (CNS) is provided. The method comprises (a) providing one or more images of the brain or cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in a subject to whom a dose of a contrast agent (CA) has been administered; (b) determining, using a computer equipped with image processing software, the concentration or relative concentration of the agent in a region or regions of interest in the brain or CSF, thereby generating concentration data; (c) describing the time-based behavior of concentrations of CA within the brain or CSF using a pharmacokinetic model that is based on a set of pharmacokinetic model parameters; and (d) fitting, using computer code, the pharmacokinetic model to the concentration data, varying one or more parameters, wherein the best fit estimates a parameter of physiological significance in the CNS. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150338485 | METAL PARTICLE MRI CONTRAST AGENTS AND METHODS OF USE - Disclosed herein is a novel MRI contrast agent. The MRI contrast agent is a metal particle having particular shape and size parameters that provides the metal particle with the ability to improve contrast by resisting transverse relaxivity saturation. The disclosed metal particle may be used in both medical and research diagnostic procedures, such as MRI, X-ray, and NMR. Also disclosed are compositions comprising the disclosed metal particle, and methods of using the metal particle. In particular disclosed embodiments, the metal particle is a barium ferrite particle. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150342496 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MEDICAL IMAGE DATA RECORDS - In a method and medical imaging apparatus, for generating medical image data records, raw data of the examination object are acquired by operation of a medical imaging scanner, a reconstruction algorithm issued for reconstructing a medical image data record on the basis of raw data and of a value of a physiological parameter. At least two medical image data records are created by applying the reconstruction algorithm at least twice to the acquired raw data using a different virtual value of the physiological parameter each time. The at least two medical image data records are provided from the reconstruction computer. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150346303 | HIGH SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL RESOLUTION DYNAMIC CONTRAST-ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A method for high spatial and temporal resolution dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using a random subsampled Cartesian k-space using a Poisson-disk random pattern acquisition strategy and a compressed sensing reconstruction algorithm incorporating magnitude image subtraction is presented. One reconstruction uses a split-Bregman minimization of the sum of the L1 norm of the pixel-wise magnitude difference between two successive temporal frames, a fidelity term and a total variation (TV) sparsity term. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150359475 | MRI-Based Systems and Methods for Determining Function Capacity of the Kidney - Systems and methods for noninvasively determining the function capacity of the kidney are provided. In the methods, first contrast agent is injected into the vasculature of a subject. The contrast agent is to be bound with functioning glomeruli of the kidney of the subject. Then, the kidney is imaged with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire MRI images of the kidney. In the images, signal magnitudes or phases of voxels of regions bound with the contrast agent are different from signal magnitudes or phases of voxels of regions not bound with the contrast agent. Afterwards, the function capacity of the kidney is determined using the MRI images. Lastly, a report of the function capacity of the kidney is generated. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150366484 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A SPATIALLY RESOLVED DISTRIBUTION OF A MARKER SUBSTANCE - A method for determining a spatially resolved distribution of a marker substance, a marker substance and a use of a marker substance in a quantitative magnetic resonance method is provided. To specify an effective possibility of determining a spatially resolved distribution of a marker substance in an object under examination, the method for determining a spatially resolved distribution of a marker substance, located in an object under examination, includes: acquiring magnetic resonance signals of an examination region of the object under examination by means of a quantitative magnetic resonance method, quantifying a measurement-n-tuple of material parameters with the aid of the acquired magnetic resonance signals, comparing the measurement-n-tuple with a known marker substance-n-tuple of the marker substance, calculating a spatially resolved distribution of the marker substance in the examination region with the aid of the result of the comparison, and providing the spatially resolved distribution of the marker substance. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150367001 | MAGNETIC MICROSTRUCTURES FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance structure with a cavity or a reserved space that provides contrast and the additional ability to frequency-shift the spectral signature of the NMR-susceptible nuclei such as water protons by a discrete and controllable characteristic frequency shift that is unique to each MRS design. The invention also relates to nearly uniform solid magnetic resonance T | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150369895 | MAGNETIC MICROSTRUCTURES FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance structure with a cavity or a reserved space that provides contrast and the additional ability to frequency-shift the spectral signature of the NMR-susceptible nuclei such as water protons by a discrete and controllable characteristic frequency shift that is unique to each MRS design. The invention also relates to nearly uniform solid magnetic resonance T | 12-24-2015 |
| 20160022169 | DETERMINATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF TISSUE FROM DYNAMIC CONTRAST-ENHANCED MR DATA - A method of determining microvascular architecture is disclosed. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance data acquired from a contrast agent administered to at least a part of a subject to be examined. From the dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance data a leakage parameter (k | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160025835 | Simultaneous Magnetic Resonance Angiography And Perfusion With Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting - Embodiments associated with combined magnetic resonance angiography and perfusion (MRAP) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) fingerprinting are described. One example apparatus repetitively and variably samples a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals that are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The apparatus includes a signal logic that produces an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals and a characterization logic that characterizes a resonant species in the object as a result of comparing acquired signals to reference signals. The apparatus includes an MRAP logic that simultaneously performs MR angiography and produces quantitative perfusion maps. A multi-factor MR bio-imaging panel is produced from a combination of the data provided by the MRAP and NMR fingerprinting. Diagnoses may be made from the multi-factor MR bio-imaging panel. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160030768 | System and Method for Improved High Dose Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning - The present invention includes a catheter for providing contrast under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The catheter includes an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and lumen. The catheter further includes a solution of saline and at least one contrast agent, where the solution is sealed within at least a portion of the catheter lumen. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160038727 | SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY OF GASEOUS IMAGING CONTRAST AGENTS AND METHODS FOR USING SAME - Systems and methods for delivering a gaseous contrast agent to the lungs of a subject. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160058304 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VESSEL ARCHITECTURAL IMAGING - A system and method for generating a report regarding a vascular health status of a subject being imaged using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes receiving a plurality of MRI datasets, each MRI dataset acquired from the a portion of the subject including a vascular structure. The process also includes analyzing the MRI datasets to identify at least one of a temporal shift and a MR signal variation between the MRI datasets, correlating the at least one of the temporal shift and the MR signal variation to a vascular health status, and generating a report indicating the vascular health status of the subject. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160061911 | IMPLANT WITH MRI DEVICE RECOGNITION - An implant with magnetic field recognition, such as an implant that recognizes fields generated by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device. The implant includes at least one voltage source, at least one control unit, at least one communication coil and an optical structure with a Faraday element. The optical structure includes at least one first and second polarization filters and at least one light detector. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160061919 | IMAGING OF CREATINE KINASE ENZYME EXPRESSION IN CANCEROUS TISSUES - The present technology is directed to apparatuses, machines and methods for determining the level of expression of creatine kinase enzyme in cancerous tissues, as well as for determining malignancy and providing a cancer prognosis. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160100910 | IMAGING FIDUCIAL MARKERS AND METHODS - An implantable tissue marker incorporates a contrast agent sealed within a chamber in a container formed from a solid material. The contrast agent is selected to produce a change, such as an increase, in signal intensity under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An additional contrast agent may also be sealed within the chamber to provide visibility under another imaging modality, such as computed tomographic (CT) imaging or ultrasound imaging. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160109539 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE MAPS FOR ANALYZING TISSUE - Apparatus for operating MRI is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a control for operating an MRI scanner to carry out an MRI scan; an input for receiving first and second MRI scans respectively at the beginning and end of a predetermined time interval post contrast administration; a subtraction map former for forming a subtraction map from the first and the second MRI scans by analyzing the scans to distinguish between a population in which contrast clearance from the tissue is slower than contrast accumulation, and a population in which clearance is faster than accumulation; and an output to provide an indication of distribution of the populations. The control is configured to carry out the first scan at least five minutes and no more than twenty minutes post contrast administration and to carry out the second scan such that the predetermined time period is at least twenty minutes. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160113501 | Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Methodology Using Transverse Relaxation Preparation and Non-Echo-Planar Imaging (EPI) Pulse Sequences - An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a new acquisition scheme for T2-weighted BOLD fMRI. It employs a T2 preparation module to induce the BOLD contrast, followed by a single-shot 3D fast gradient echo (GRE) readout with short echo time (TE<2 ms). The separation of BOLD contrast generation from the readout substantially reduces the “dead time” due to long TE required in spin echo (SE) BOLD sequences. This approach termed “3D T2prep-GRE,” can be implemented with any magnetic resonance imaging machine, known to or conceivable by one of skill in the art. This approach is expected to be useful for ultra-high field fMRI studies that require whole brain coverage, or focus on regions near air cavities. The concept of using T2 preparation to generate BOLD contrast can be combined with many other fast imaging sequences at any field strength. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160157746 | DIFFUSION REPRODUCIBILITY EVALUATION AND MEASUREMENT (DREAM)-MRI IMAGING METHODS - Methods for quickly estimating apparent diffusion coefficient probability density functions (ADC PDFs) for each image voxel are provided using a “diffusion reproducibility evaluation and measurement” (DREAM) magnetic resonance sequence. Non-diffusion-weighted (reference) images collected simultaneously have blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) sensitivity that can be used for resting-state fMRI data to measure functional connectivity, an unbiased parameter reflecting neurological integrity. ADC coefficient of variation (ADC CV) measurements can be used to isolate and label regions of non-enhancing tumor and predict future enhancement independent of FLAIR, T2, or average ADC maps. Functional diffusion mapping (fDMs) using voxel-wise changes in ADC PDFs can be used to spatially visualize and statistically quantify response to treatment. Additionally, the temporal (time-resolved) diffusivity information can be used for real-time MR thermometry, which is useful for cancer treatment monitoring, and for microperfusion quantification, and tumor/tissue characterization. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160187445 | MULTI-ECHO PARAMETRIC VARIATION SATURATION (MEPAVARS) FOR CEST IMAGING AND OTHER MR IMAGING - The present invention provides a novel approach for CEST MR imaging, called Multi-echo Parametric VARiation Saturation (Me-PaVARS) CEST. This method places multiple image readouts in between a series of saturation pulses. The saturation pulse parameters are varied in a designated systematic pattern, which allows the generation of CEST contrast maps by encoding the patterns of signal loss into the images for better discrimination between various CEST imaging agents. The saturation parameter changes include, but are not limited to, saturation amplitude (B | 06-30-2016 |
| 20170231523 | METHOD AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS SCAR QUANTIFICATION IN THE MYOCARDIUM | 08-17-2017 |
| 20180025489 | QUANTIFYING MASS EFFECT DEFORMATION WITH STRUCTURAL RADIOMICS IN BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS | 01-25-2018 |
