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:
Jun. 17, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 12, 2001
Paul S. Teirstein, La Jolla, CA (US);
Kenneth W. Carpenter, Del Mar, CA (US);
Istvan Szinai, San Diego, CA (US);
David A. Schwartz, Encinitas, CA (US);
Medivas, LLC, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides in vivo methods for detection of vulnerable plaque in a subject in need thereof. In the invention method the subject is administered a diagnostic amount of a biologically compatible detectable lipid-avid agent, the detectable lipid-avid agent is allowed to penetrate arterial walls and attach to any lipid accumulations of oxidized LDL-cholesterol in arterial walls in the wall of an artery; unbound detectable lipid-avid agent is allowed to clear from the body by natural processes, and the presence of the detectable lipid-avid agent attached to the lipid accumulation in the wall of the artery is detected. Detection of bound lipid-avid agent indicates the presence of a vulnerable plaque and predicts a heightened risk of lethal heart attack or thrombus. The detectable lipid-avid agent is selected for its ability to penetrate arterial walls and bind with oxidized LDL-cholesterol in the lipid accumulation in a vulnerable plaque. Alternatively, macrophage-avid agents, for example a lipid-avid agent attached to a macrophage-specific antibody, can be used in the invention methods. The invention further includes methods for in vitro assays for detecting vulnerable plaque and a porcine animal model of vulnerable plaque useful for testing treatment modalities.