University of Pennsylvania

Medrad, Inc.

Other

Phospho-Energetics, Inc.

Sidra Medicine

Mitchell D Schnall

Robert E Lenkinski

Edward J Rhinehart

Herbert Y Kressel

James E Baumgardner

David A Roberts

Rahim R Rizi

David Lipson

Howard M Pollack

George J Misic

Yutaka Imai

Ravinder Reddy

John S Leigh

Thomas R Welch

Hari Hariharan

Lawrence Dougherty

Hee Kwon Song

Theodore C Claiborne

Puneet Bagga

Raymond Charles Boston

Barton Milestone

Herbert Y Kresel

V Harihara Subramanian

Mohammad Haris

Francesco M Marincola

The present disclosure relates to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods comprising (i) obtaining a baseline chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI image of a patient, (ii) administering an effective amount of a non-nutritive sweetener to the patient, and (iii) obtaining one or more test CEST MRI image of the patient subsequent to the administering step (ii); wherein the step (i) and (iii) acquisition parameters are substantially the same. The non-nutritive sweetener may include a natural or artificial sugar alcohol, polyol, or combinations or derivatives thereof.

Non-nutritive sweeteners and polyols as imaging agents

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.

Rapid 3-dimensional bilateral breast MR imaging

The present invention offers novel equilibration methods for very high resolution, three-dimensional imaging of imaging of lung compliance and distribution of functional residual capacity (FRC) in the lung using hyperpolarized helium-3 (He) gas (HHe), and collecting local magnetic resonance image data therefrom. Using the present methods permits many functions that have been performed on a regional level for the whole lung using non-polarized helium, to be calculated for the first time from the local MRI measurements of local HHe, such as measuring volume or compliance.

Equilibration method for high resolution imaging of lung compliance and distribution of functional residual capacity

The present invention comprises imaging and quantitative measurement of lung ventilation, particularly in a human lung. Methods for quantitative imaging of lung ventilation, and the further provided systems and algorithmic tools therefore, comprise three primary components: the combined MRI ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging techniques using hyperpolarized helium-3 (He) gas (HHe); the three-dimensional quantitative imaging of absolute lung perfusion (Q) and collection of local magnetic resonance image data therefrom to produce an absolute lung perfusion image data; and the algorithmic co-registration of the two image data sets, (HP-He MRI image of V/Q and MR imaging of quantitative perfusion (Q) in the lung). From the data acquired in the combined data sets and their spatial co-registration, absolute ventilation (V) is computed.

Quantitative pulmonary imaging

An insertable pickup probe and interface network for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. The pickup probe in the preferred embodiment is for use in imaging the male prostate and comprises an elongated shaft supporting a patient interface balloon at its distal end which contains a RF receiving coil. The interface balloon comprises an inflatable inner balloon enclosed by a flexible outer balloon. The receiving coil is positioned between the inner and outer balloons and placed intimately adjacent the region of interest by inflating the inner balloon to expand outwardly against the outer balloon. In addition, a non-stretchable planar material is provided on the surface on the inner balloon adjacent the receiving coil for ensuring that the receiving coil is placed adjacent the region of interest. The inner balloon is inflated by an inflator cuff connected to the shaft and communicated to the inner balloon by a first lumen in the shaft. The receiving coil is electrically connected to an interconnecting cable which is connected to the proximal end of the shaft and communicated to the receiving coil by a second lumen in the shaft. The interface network receives the interconnecting cable of the pickup probe and includes impedance matching means, tuning means, and decoupling means for interfacing the probe with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. In addition, the interface includes an electronic circuit for automatically adjusting the control voltage of a varactor diode in a Pi network which comprises the tuning means.

Intracavity probe and interface device for MRI imaging and spectroscopy

An insertable intracavity probe for use in magnetic resonance imaging of an area of interest in a relatively inaccessible region of the body particularly the cervix is disclosed. The probe has an inflatable balloon structure with an internal pickup coil carried at the distal end of a shaft for rectal insertion of the coil and an inflatable anti-migration cuff to hold the probe in position and prevent outward migration thereof during a procedure. The balloon structure has an outer balloon shaped to facilitate insertion and accommodation of the coil to areas of the anatomy adjacent the cervix. Internally, the balloon structure has an inflatable balloon which can be used to adjust the shape of the coil to accommodate uniquely shaped anatomical areas.

Probe for MRI imaging and spectroscopy particularly in the cervical

An insertable pickup probe and interface network for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. The pickup probe in the preferred embodiment is for use in imaging the male prostate and comprises an elongated shaft supporting a patient interface balloon at its distal end which contains a RF receiving coil. The interface balloon comprises an inflatabe inner balloon enclosed by a flexible outer balloon. The receiving coil is positioned between the inner and outer balloons and placed intimately adjacent the region of interest by inflating the inner balloon to expand outwardly against the outer balloon. In addition, a non-stretchable planar material is provided on the surface on the inner balloon adjacent the receiving coil for ensuring that the receiving coil is placed adjacent the region of interest. The inner balloon is inflated by an inflator cuff connected to the shaft and communicated to the inner balloon by a first lumen in the shaft. The receiving coil is electrically connected to an interconnecting cable which is connected to the proximal end of the shaft and communicated to the receiving coil by a second lumen in the shaft. An interface network is also provided which receives the interconnecting cable of the pickup probe and includes impedance matching means, tuning means, and decoupling means for interfacing the probe with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. In addition, the interface includes an electronic circuit for automatically adjusting the control voltage of a varactor diode in a Pi network which comprises the tuning means.

An insertable intracavity probe for use in magnetic resonance imaging of an area of interest in a body cavity particularly the colon, has an elongate shaft with a handle at its proximal end and an inflatable balloon structure at its distal end. The balloon structure has an outer balloon containing a loop-type pickup coil for connection to an interfacing network. The coil is sandwiched between two internal separately inflatable balloons, and when the probe is inserted, the coil can be optimally positioned relative to the area of interest by controlled differential inflation of the balloons. The probe also has an insertable rod-like mandrel for providing twisting orbital-type movement of the balloon structure on the shaft, by rotation of the mandrel, useful to steer the probe along curves or bends in the body cavity when it is being inserted. In a modified form of the probe, the mandrel can be used to rotate the coil and the internal balloons as a unit within the outer balloon for optimal in situ angular positioning of the coil.

Externally moveable intracavity probe for MRI imaging and spectroscopy

A multiple tuning NMR probe includes a radio frequency (RF) probe tuned by means of a circuit which creates a multiple pole circuit response in the probe, each of the poles being sufficiently separated from each other as to cause resonance of the probe at distinct frequencies. When tuning for nuclei with resonances substantially apart, this function may be accomplished using a parallel capacitor-inductor (L-C) trap with an impedance matching network. When tuning for nuclei with substantially closely spaced resonances, a tank circuit is used which has a single resonance which is split into two resonances by strongly coupling it to another tank circuit in resonance with the sample coil tank circuit.

Multiple tuning NMR probe

Growing community of inventors

Lansdowne, PA, United States of America

Mitchell D Schnall