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AssigneeBoard of Reagents, The University of Texas System
InventorKenneth J. Balkus, Jr.
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to compositions and methods of using clay-enclosed paramagnetic ions as image brightening or image contrast agents. In particular, T.sub.1 relaxivity measurements on Hectorite and mortmorillonite clay-enclosed trivalent gadolinium suggest improved imaging over zeolite-enclosed paramagnetic species. Clay-enclosed gadolinium complexes are amenable to convenient administration in oral preparations and are readily formulated in stable aqueous suspensions. Other transition metal ions, including divalent manganese, may be enclosed in the clay structures, either as free metals or in the forms of chelated complexes. Alternatively, improved relaxivities are envisioned for clays incorporating a paramagnetic metal ion as part of the framework structure.
An aluminosilicate composition comprising a smectite clay enclosed paramagnetic ion useful as an image brightening agent.
A magnetic resonance imaging method comprising administering to an animal an amount of framwork modified smectite clay enclosed paramagnetic ion, said amount being effective as a contrast or image-brightening agent and detecting the paramagnetic ion by magnetic resonance imaging.
A method for gastrointestinal tract imaging comprising orally administering a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation comprising clay enclosed divalent manganese and detecting the manganese by magnetic resonance imaging.
A magnetic resonance imaging method comprising administering to an animal an effective amount of framework modified smectite clay wherein the framework is modified with a lanthanide metal and detecting the lanthanide metal by magnetic resonance imaging, said amount being effective as a contrast or imaging brightening agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.