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:
Aug. 12, 2008
Filed:
Jul. 30, 2002
Robert M. Weisskoff, Lexington, MA (US);
Peter D. Caravan, Cambridge, MA (US);
Sonia Witte, Roslindale, MA (US);
Randall B. Lauffer, Brookline, MA (US);
Alan P. Carpenter, Jr., Carlisle, MA (US);
Robert M. Weisskoff, Lexington, MA (US);
Peter D. Caravan, Cambridge, MA (US);
Sonia Witte, Roslindale, MA (US);
Randall B. Lauffer, Brookline, MA (US);
Alan P. Carpenter, Jr., Carlisle, MA (US);
Epix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
This invention relates to MRI-based methods and systems useful for diagnosing and clinically assessing the presence, location, and size of cardiovascular disease-associated stationary targets, e.g., thrombi and atherosclerotic lesions, within the vascular system. Methods and systems of the invention allow for improved anatomical information to be obtained from MRI images and allow the clinician to develop more effective treatment plans. In one aspect, the invention provides a method of determining the presence or absence of a stationary target within the vascular system of a mammal wherein two MRI data sets representing images of the vascular system and the stationary target are acquired after administration of a targeted MRI contrast agent. In another embodiment, both a targeted MRI contrast agent and a vascular MRI contrast agent are administered to a mammal, and both a vascular MRI and a targeted MRI data set are acquired.