Use of cross-linked hydrogel materials as image contrast agents in proton nuclear magnetic resonance tomography and tissue phantom kits containing such materials
AssigneeCiba-Geigy Corporation
InventorPaula T. Beall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Cross-linked hydrogel materials in the swollen state exhibit a range of nuclear magnetic resonance spin density values, spin-lattice or longitudinal relaxation (T.sub.1) values, and spin-spin or transverse relaxation (T.sub.2) values embracing that of the spectrum of values associated with animal and human tissues, thereby rendering such materials useful in nuclear magnetic resonance tomography equipment contrast determinations in physiological imaging and, as to those cross-linked hydrogel materials having T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 values substantially shorter than the surrounding tissue, such materials are useful as image contrast agents, for example, in the gastro-intestinal tract.
Claims10
A method of contrasting a proton NMR tomograph of the gastro-intestinal tract, or a portion thereof, by administering enterally to a mammal an effective image contrasting amount of a physiologically tolerable, synthetic, substantially non-degradable cross-linked hydrogel having, in the aqueous swollen state, spin-lattice or spin-spin relaxation values substantially shorter than the surrounding gastro-intestinal tissue environment;
- and subjecting said mammal to said proton NMR tomography.
A proton nuclear magnetic resonance tomography tissue phantom kit comprising a collection of synthetic cross-linked storage stabile aqueous swollen hydrogels possessing varying T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 constants as proton nuclear magnetic resonance tomography contrast agents in addition to conventional proton nuclear magnetic resonance tomography tissue phantom kit components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.