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US 2004/0024318 A1Published application
Method for assessing myocardial angiogenesis
OwnerEgidijus E. Uzgirisinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Polymeric contrast agents are used to monitor myocardial neovascularization. The agent is injected and images of the myocardium are obtained at various time intervals after injection. Localized image enhancement indicates an area of increased angiogenesis.
Claims23
A method for monitoring myocardial angiogenesis, the method comprising:
- intravenously administering a polymeric contrast agent to a subject, the polymeric contrast agent having a conformation with a length that is 5 to 500 times greater than the average diameter of the polymeric contrast agent;
- obtaining at least two images of the myocardium of the subject;
- and
- comparing the images to assess the growth of new blood vessels, wherein a localized image enhancement indicates an area of increased myocardial angiogenesis.
1 more element
A method for detecting myocardial angiogenesis, the method comprising:
- providing a polymeric contrast agent by reacting a substantially mono-activated steric hindrance molecule with a polymer, to provide a polymer-steric hindrance molecule copolymer having an elongated structure and having a degree of conjugation of 90% or greater and loading the polymer-steric hindrance molecule copolymer with an image producing entity;
- intravenously administering the polymeric contrast agent to a subject obtaining at least two images of the myocardium of the subject;
- and
- comparing the images to assess the growth of new blood vessels, wherein a localized image enhancement indicates an area of increased myocardial angiogenesis.
1 more element
A method for diagnosing coronary disease, the method comprising:
- intravenously administering a polymeric contrast agent to a subject having or suspected of having coronary disease, the polymeric contrast agent having a length that is 5 to 500 times its average diameter;
- obtaining at least two images of the myocardium of the subject;
- and
- comparing the images to determine the presence of new blood vessels, wherein a localized image enhancement indicates the presence of myocardial angiogenesis and the presence of coronary disease.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.