The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 02, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 28, 1998
Jean F Desreux, B-4031, Angleur, BE;
Vincent Jacques, B-4347, Fexhe-Le-Haut-Clocher, BE;
Valerie Humblet, B-4300, Waremme, BE;
Martine Hermann, B-4980 Ovifat, BE;
Vinciane Comblin-Tholet, B-4040 Herstal, BE;
Michael F Tweedle, Princeton, NJ (US);
Other;
Abstract
Metal complexes of new ligands of the formula ##STR1## are useful as agents for medical imaging, particularly MRI, for in vitro or in vivo diagnostic or as radiopharmaceuticals. In these compounds, X--R.sup.1 --Y is a coordinating group able to form a highly stable complex with metal ions. Suitable units are for example derivatives of ortho-phenanthroline or of an hydroxamic acid. R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are reactive functions such as amines or carboxylic groups. R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are ligands, for instance diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid 1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DTPA), 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) or 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-N, N', N', N''-tetraacetic acid (TETA), of a different type than the X--R.sup.1 --Y units and able to strongly encapsulate metal ions with which the X--R.sup.1 --Y moieties form less stable chelates. Stable high molecular weight multimetallic entities are spontaneously formed by these ligands that spontaneously associate around metal ions through the X--R.sup.1 --Y units. Higher relaxivities thus are achieved. Mixed-complexes containing two different radionuclides are also obtained thus allowing imaging and therapy with one single chelate.