The Johns Hopkins University

Kennedy Krieger Institute, Inc.

Assaf A Gilad

Michael T McMahon

Peter C M Van Zijl

Raman Venu

Paul T Winnard, Jr

Michael T Mcmahon

Jeff Bulte

Peter C Van Zijl

Xiaolei Song

Guanshu Liu

Jeff W M Bulte

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method of non-invasively detecting and imaging temperature or temperature changes by assessing the temperature induced shifts in the saturation spectrum of water using MRI, namely saturation shift referencing. This procedure includes the MRI procedures to assess water saturation spectrum and the data processing steps to determine the temperature induced shifts of water resonance frequency and consequently to estimate the temperature change. This procedure also includes the procedure of assessing fat saturation spectrum and estimating fat resonance frequency. This method can be used as a clinical procedure for temperature mapping in multiple applications, especially where a significant amount of fat is present. One application is to monitor the temperature of the targeted tumor and its surrounding tissues during the procedure of hyperthermia. Such local hyperthermia can be applied, using high-intensity focus-ultrasound for deep-seated tissues or heating supplies for superficial tissues.

Non-invasive temperature mapping using temperature-responsive water saturation shift referencing (T-WASSR) MRI

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), number (N), offset (&#x394;&#x3c9;), modulation frequency (&#x3c9;) and power (B) can be varied in specific-designed schemes. Data is generated from the CEST magnetic labeling experiment and is transmitted to a data processing unit. The data is processed to generate a visual representation of the data.

CEST phase and magnitude imaging using a multi-parametric varied saturation scheme

Featured are a new class of reporter genes including reporter compositions as well as methods, MRI systems and MRI imaging kits related thereto. The genes according to the present invention provide MR contrast when the sample/subject is irradiated at a specific off-resonance radio-frequency (RF frequency), where the contrast mechanism utilizes chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) technique for imaging.

Chemical exchange saturation transfer based MRI using reporter genes and MRI methods related thereto

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Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Assaf A Gilad