Systems and Methods to Image Intercellular and Intercompartmental Defects with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Abstract

The invention provides systems and methods for providing a diagnostic examination to a patient, including, but not limited to a determination of the permeability of a patients' body cavity.

1 . A method for detecting patent foramen ovale in a patient comprising:
 administering a T1-reducing contrast agent and a T2-reducing contrast agent to the patient; and   imaging the patient's heart;   wherein diffusion of the T2 reducing contrast agent from the right atrium to the left atrium is indicative of patent foramen ovale.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particle size of the T2-reducing contrast agent is larger than the particle size of the T1-reducing contrast agent 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the T1-reducing contrast agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent are administered to the patient as a single composition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the T1-reducing agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent are administered to the patient as two separate compositions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein administering T1-reducing contrast agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent are completed simultaneously. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein imaging the patient's heart comprises imaging via magnetic resonance imaging. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein imaging the patient's heart is performed within about 10 minutes of administration of the T1-reducing contrast agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first T1-reducing contrast agent comprises a gadolinium compound. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the gadolinium compound is selected from gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA), gadoterate meglumine, gadoversetamide, gadoteridol, gadodiamide, gadobenate dimeglumine, gadobutrol, gadoxetate disodium, gadofosveset trisodium and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the T2-reducing contrast agent comprises an iron oxide. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the iron oxide is selected from iron (II) oxide, iron (III) oxide, ferumoxytol (Feraheme), Feraspin XS, Feraspin S, Feraspin M, Feraspin R, Feraspin L, Feraspin XL, iron nickel oxide nanopowder, iron oxide (II,III) magnetic nanoparticles, iron-nickel alloy nanopowder, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, carbon coated iron nanopowder, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein administration of the T1-reducing contrast agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent is achieved by administration to the patient's cardiovascular system. 
     
     
         13 . A method for detecting patent foramen ovale in a patient comprising:
 imaging the patient after administering a T1-reducing contrast agent and a T2-reducing contrast agent to the patient;   wherein diffusion of the T2 reducing contrast agent from the right atrium to the left atrium is indicative of patent foramen ovale.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the particle size of the T2-reducing contrast agent is larger than the particle size of the T1-reducing contrast agent. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the T1-reducing contrast agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent are administered to the patient as a single composition. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the T1-reducing contrast agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent are administered to the patient as two separate compositions. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein administering T1-reducing contrast agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent are completed simultaneously. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein imaging the patient comprises imaging via magnetic resonance imaging. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein imaging the patient is performed within about 10 minutes of administration of the T1-reducing contrast agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first T1-reducing contrast agent comprises a gadolinium compound. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the gadolinium compound is selected from gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA), gadoterate meglumine, gadoversetamide, gadoteridol, gadodiamide, gadobenate dimeglumine, gadobutrol, gadoxetate disodium, gadofosveset trisodium and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the T2-reducing contrast agent comprises an iron oxide. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the iron oxide is selected from iron (II) oxide, iron (III) oxide, ferumoxytol (Feraheme), Feraspin XS, Feraspin S, Feraspin M, Feraspin R, Feraspin L, Feraspin XL, iron nickel oxide nanopowder, iron oxide (II,III) magnetic nanoparticles, iron-nickel alloy nanopowder, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, carbon coated iron nanopowder, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein administration of the T1-reducing contrast agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent is achieved by administration to the patient's cardiovascular system. 
     
     
         25 .- 48 . (canceled)