Methods of perfusion imaging

Abstract

The invention provides a method of imaging a blood vessel in a body using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The method includes the step of acquiring images of a region of the body in which the blood vessel is located. It also includes the step of administering an MR contrast agent into the vascular system of the body at a dose and a time selected so that the MR contrast agent passing through the blood vessel is present therein during acquisition of the images thereof for at least part of the acquiring step.

1 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . A method of detecting and quantitatively evaluating an abnormality or variation in blood flow in a body, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) administering a magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent into a blood vessel of a body, said MR contrast agent containing a contrast enhancing amount of a paramagnetic metal;    (b) scanning with an MR imaging scanner, according to a desired MR imaging procedure, at least a portion of the body through which said MR contrast agent passes to generate temporally spaced MR images thereof from MR signals induced therein;    (c) detecting temporal variations in said MR images by comparing at least one of said MR images acquired earlier in said scanning step with at least one of said MR images acquired later in said scanning step;    (d) identifying a region of abnormality or variation in blood flow using said temporal variations detected in said detecting step; and    (e) providing a quantitative indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow in the region of the body identified in said identifying step.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said MR contrast agent is provided in a form selected from the group consisting of particulate forms, hydrophilic forms, and blood-pooling forms of the contrast agent.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Tb and Ln.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent comprises Gd.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the paramagnetic metal is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the Gd is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the chelate of Gd comprises material selected from the group consisting of Gd-DO3A, GdDTPA-BMA and GdDTPA-BMO.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the desired MR imaging procedure is selected from the group consisting of: T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences each have an image acquisition time of approximately less than 8 minutes.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences each have an image acquisition time of approximately less than 5 minutes.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the desired MR imaging procedure is selected from the group consisting of spin echo imaging, gradient echo imaging and echo planar imaging.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the desired MR imaging procedure generates successive images in less than 0.5 seconds.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the desired MR imaging procedure generates successive images in less than 100 milliseconds.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said identifying step involves using results of the comparison of said detecting step to determine a ratio of signal intensity for each pixel/voxel in said MR images so compared and thereby identify the region of abnormality or variation in blood flow.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said identifying step involves a physician visually examining at least two of said MR images compared in said detecting step to identify the region of abnormality or variation in blood flow.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said step of providing a quantitative indication includes using results of the comparison of said detecting step to ascertain signal intensity versus time data and calculate therefrom at least one of (i) a corresponding numerical indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow, (ii) a corresponding relative indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow, and (iii) a corresponding percentage indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein said signal intensity versus time data includes at least one of: (1) rate of change of signal intensity in said temporally spaced MR images so compared, (2) degree of change in signal intensity in said temporally spaced MR images so compared, and (3) duration of change in signal intensity in said temporally spaced MR images so compared.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising the steps of: 
 (a) generating, in the absence of said MR contrast agent, at least one native MR image of the at least a portion of the body; and    (b) comparing the at least one native MR image with the at least one of said MR images acquired in the presence of said MR contrast agent;    so that said temporal variations detected in said detecting step include those detectable between the at least one native MR image and the at least one of said MR images acquired in the presence of said MR contrast agent.    
   
   
       46 . A method of detecting and quantitatively evaluating an abnormality or variation in blood flow in a body, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) administering a magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent into a blood vessel of a body, said MR contrast agent containing a contrast enhancing amount of a paramagnetic metal;    (b) scanning with an MR imaging scanner, according to a desired MR imaging procedure, at least a portion of the body through which said MR contrast agent passes and thereby collecting sets of MR signal data corresponding to the at least a portion of the body, each of said sets of MR signal data being successively acquired over an acquisition time;    (c) detecting temporal variations in said MR signal data by comparing at least one earlier acquired set of said sets of MR signal data with at least one later acquired set of said sets of MR signal data;    (d) identifying a region of abnormality or variation in blood flow using said temporal variations detected in said detecting step; and    (e) providing a quantitative indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow in the region of the body identified in said identifying step.    
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said MR contrast agent is provided in a form selected from the group consisting of particulate forms, hydrophilic forms, and blood-pooling forms of the contrast agent.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Tb and Ln.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent comprises Gd.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the paramagnetic metal is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the Gd is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the chelate of Gd comprises material selected from the group consisting of Gd-DO3A, GdDTPA-BMA and GdDTPA-BMO.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the desired MR imaging procedure is selected from the group consisting of: T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein said T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences each have an image acquisition time of approximately less than 8 minutes.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 53  wherein said T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences each have an image acquisition time of approximately less than 5 minutes.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the desired MR imaging procedure is selected from the group consisting of spin echo imaging, gradient echo imaging and echo planar imaging.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said sets of MR signal data includes at least one of 2-D planar image data and 3-D contour image data corresponding to the at least a portion of the body.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57  wherein said identifying step involves: 
 (a) manipulating at least one of (I) said sets of 2-D planar image data and (II) said sets of 3-D contour image data to form a sequence of images of the at least a portion of the body; and    (b) comparing at least one earlier image in said sequence of images with at least one later image in said sequence of images so as to ascertain the abnormality or variation in blood flow.    
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 58  wherein said comparing step is carried out by a physician visually examining at least two images of said sequence of images.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said identifying step involves: 
 (a) manipulating said sets of MR signal data to form a sequence of images of the at least a portion of the body; and    (b) comparing at least one earlier image in said sequence of images with at least one later image in said sequence of images so as to ascertain the abnormality or variation in blood flow.    
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60  wherein said comparing step is carried out by a physician visually examining at least two images of said sequence of images.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 57  wherein said identifying step is carried out by computer software quantitatively manipulating at least one of: 
 (a)  2 -D planar image data from at least two of said sets of 2-D planar image data; and    (b)  3 -D contour image data from at least two of said sets of 3-D contour image data.    
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said step of providing a quantitative indication includes using results of the comparison of said detecting step to ascertain signal intensity versus time data and calculate therefrom at least one of (i) a corresponding numerical indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow, (ii) a corresponding relative indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow, and (iii) a corresponding percentage indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein said signal intensity versus time data includes at least one of: (1) rate of change of signal intensity in said sets of MR signal data so compared, (2) degree of change in signal intensity in said sets of MR signal data so compared, and (3) duration of change in signal intensity in said sets of MR signal data so compared.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 46  wherein each of said sets of MR signal data is acquired over said acquisition time of approximately greater than 60 milliseconds.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 46  wherein each of said sets of MR signal data is acquired over said acquisition time of approximately less than 5 seconds.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 66  wherein said MR contrast agent is administered at a dose in the range of 0.02 to 3 mmol per kilogram of bodyweight.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said MR contrast agent is administered at a dose in the range of 0.02 to 3 mmol per kilogram of bodyweight.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said MR contrast agent is administered at a dose in the range of 0.05 to 1.5 mmol per kilogram of bodyweight.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said sets of MR signal data each comprises a series of high speed echo planar images.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 46  wherein each of said sets of MR signal data provides the data necessary to form multiple images.  
   
   
       72 . A method of detecting an abnormality or variation in blood flow in a blood vessel of a body, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) administering a magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent into a vascular system of the body, said MR contrast agent containing a contrast enhancing amount of a paramagnetic metal;    (b) scanning with an MR imaging scanner, according to a desired MR imaging procedure, a region of the body containing the blood vessel through which said MR contrast agent passes thereby successively collecting MR signal data corresponding to the region of the body; and    (c) analyzing said MR signal data by comparing at least one earlier acquired set of said MR signal data with at least one later acquired set of said MR signal data so as to ascertain the abnormality or variation in blood flow in the blood vessel.    
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 72  wherein said MR contrast agent is provided in a form selected from the group consisting of particulate forms, hydrophilic forms, and blood-pooling forms of the contrast agent.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Tb and Ln.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent comprises Gd.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 74  wherein the paramagnetic metal is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 75  wherein the Gd is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 77  wherein the chelate of Gd comprises material selected from the group consisting of Gd-DO3A, GdDTPA-BMA and GdDTPA-BMO.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the desired MR imaging procedure is selected from the group consisting of: T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 79  wherein said T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences each have an image acquisition time of approximately less than 8 minutes.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 79  wherein said T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences each have an image acquisition time of approximately less than 5 minutes.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the desired MR imaging procedure is selected from the group consisting of spin echo imaging, gradient echo imaging and echo planar imaging.  
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 72  wherein said MR signal data includes at least one of 2-D planar image data and 3-D contour image data corresponding to the region of the body.  
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 83  wherein said analyzing step involves: 
 (a) manipulating at least one of said 2-D planar image data and said 3-D contour image data to form a sequence of images of the region of the body; and    (b) comparing at least one earlier image in said sequence of images with at least one later image in said sequence of images so as to ascertain the abnormality or variation in blood flow in the blood vessel.    
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 84  wherein said comparing step is carried out by a physician visually examining at least two images of said sequence of images.  
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 84  wherein said analyzing step further includes using results of said comparing step to ascertain signal intensity versus time data and calculate therefrom at least one of (i) a corresponding numerical indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow, (ii) a corresponding relative indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow, and (iii) a corresponding percentage indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow.  
   
   
       87 . The method of  claim 86  wherein said signal intensity versus time data includes at least one of: (1) rate of change of signal intensity in said images so compared, (2) degree of change in signal intensity in said images so compared, and (3) duration of change in signal intensity in said images so compared.  
   
   
       88 . The method of  claim 72  wherein said analyzing step involves: 
 (a) manipulating said MR signal data to form a sequence of images of the region of the body; and    (b) comparing at least one earlier image in said sequence of images with at least one later image in said sequence of images so as to ascertain the abnormality or variation in blood flow in the blood vessel.    
   
   
       89 . The method of  claim 88  wherein said comparing step is carried out by a physician visually examining at least two images of said sequence of images.  
   
   
       90 . The method of  claim 88  wherein said analyzing step further includes using results of said comparing step to ascertain signal intensity versus time data and calculate therefrom at least one of (i) a corresponding numerical indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow, (ii) a corresponding relative indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow, and (iii) a corresponding percentage indication of the abnormality or variation in blood flow.  
   
   
       91 . The method of  claim 90  wherein said signal intensity versus time data includes at least one of: (1) rate of change of signal intensity in said images so compared, (2) degree of change in signal intensity in said images so compared, and (3) duration of change in signal intensity in said images so compared.  
   
   
       92 . The method of  claim 83  wherein said analyzing step is carried out by software quantitatively manipulating at least one of: 
 (a) said 2-D planar image data from at least one earlier acquired set of said 2-D planar image data with at least one later acquired set of said 2-D planar image data; and    (b) said 3-D contour image data from at least one earlier acquired set of said 3-D contour image data with at least one later acquired set of said 3-D contour image data.    
   
   
       93 . The method of  claim 72  wherein each of said sets of MR signal data is acquired over an acquisition time of approximately greater than 60 milliseconds.  
   
   
       94 . The method of  claim 72  wherein each of said sets of MR signal data is acquired over an acquisition time of approximately less than 5 seconds.  
   
   
       95 . The method of  claim 94  wherein said MR contrast agent is administered at a dose in the range of 0.02 to 3 mmol per kilogram of bodyweight.  
   
   
       96 . The method of  claim 72  wherein said MR contrast agent is administered at a dose in the range of 0.02 to 3 mmol per kilogram of bodyweight.  
   
   
       97 . The method of  claim 72  wherein said MR contrast agent is administered at a dose in the range of 0.05 to 1.5 mmol per kilogram of bodyweight.  
   
   
       98 . The method of  claim 72  wherein said sets of MR signal data each comprises a series of high speed echo planar images.  
   
   
       99 . The method of  claim 72  wherein each of said sets of MR signal data provides the data necessary to form multiple images.  
   
   
       100 . A method of imaging a blood vessel in a body using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) acquiring images of a region of the body in which the blood vessel is located; and    (b) administering an MR contrast agent into a vascular system of the body at a dose and a time so that said MR contrast agent passing through the blood vessel is substantially at a maximum concentration during acquisition of said images thereof for at least part of said acquiring step.    
   
   
       101 . The method of  claim 100  wherein said MR contrast agent is provided in a form selected from the group consisting of particulate forms, hydrophilic forms, and blood-pooling forms of the contrast agent.  
   
   
       102 . The method of  claim 100  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Tb and Ln.  
   
   
       103 . The method of  claim 100  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent comprises Gd.  
   
   
       104 . The method of  claim 102  wherein the paramagnetic metal is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       105 . The method of  claim 103  wherein the Gd is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       106 . The method of  claim 105  wherein the chelate of Gd comprises material selected from the group consisting of Gd-DO3A, GdDTPA-BMA and GdDTPA-BMO.  
   
   
       107 . The method of  claim 100  wherein said MR contrast agent is administered at a dose in the range of 0.02 to 3 mmol per kilogram of bodyweight.  
   
   
       108 . The method of  claim 100  wherein said MR contrast agent is administered at a dose in the range of 0.05 to 1.5 mmol per kilogram of bodyweight.  
   
   
       109 . The method of  claim 100  wherein said acquiring step employs a procedure selected from the group consisting of: T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences.  
   
   
       110 . The method of  claim 100  wherein said T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences each have an image acquisition time of approximately less than 8 minutes.  
   
   
       111 . The method of  claim 109  wherein said T2* weighted, T2 weighted and T1 weighted imaging sequences each have an image acquisition time of approximately less than 5 minutes.  
   
   
       112 . The method of  claim 110  wherein said acquiring step employs a procedure selected from the group consisting of spin echo imaging, gradient echo imaging and echo planar imaging.  
   
   
       113 . A method of imaging a blood vessel in a body using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) administering an MR contrast agent into a vascular system of the body, said MR contrast agent containing a contrast enhancing amount of a paramagnetic metal; and    (b) acquiring images of a region of the body in which the blood vessel is located before, during and after administration of said MR contrast agent;    with said images acquired before administration of said MR contrast agent capable of comparison with at least said images acquired while said MR contrast agent passing through the blood vessel is substantially at a maximum concentration.    
   
   
       114 . The method of  claim 113  wherein said MR contrast agent is provided in a form selected from the group consisting of particulate forms, hydrophilic forms, and blood-pooling forms of the contrast agent.  
   
   
       115 . The method of  claim 113  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Tb and Ln.  
   
   
       116 . The method of  claim 113  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent comprises Gd.  
   
   
       117 . The method of  claim 115  wherein the paramagnetic metal is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       118 . The method of  claim 116  wherein the Gd is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       119 . The method of  claim 118  wherein the chelate of Gd comprises material selected from the group consisting of Gd-DO3A, GdDTPA-BMA and GdDTPA-BMO.  
   
   
       120 . A method of imaging a blood vessel in a body using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) acquiring images of a region of the body in which the blood vessel is located; and    (b) administering an MR contrast agent into a vascular system of the body at a dose and a time selected so that said MR contrast agent passing through the blood vessel is present therein during acquisition of said images thereof for at least part of said acquiring step.    
   
   
       121 . The method of  claim 120  wherein said MR contrast agent is provided in a form selected from the group consisting of particulate forms, hydrophilic forms, and blood-pooling forms of the contrast agent.  
   
   
       122 . The method of  claim 120  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Tb and Ln.  
   
   
       123 . The method of  claim 120  wherein the paramagnetic metal contained within said MR contrast agent comprises Gd.  
   
   
       124 . The method of  claim 122  wherein the paramagnetic metal is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       125 . The method of  claim 123  wherein the Gd is present as a chelate.  
   
   
       126 . The method of  claim 125  wherein the chelate of Gd comprises material selected from the group consisting of Gd-DO3A, GdDTPA-BMA and GdDTPA-BMO.