Natural polymers as contrast media for magnetic resonance imaging
AssigneeImaR.sub.x Pharmaceutical Corp.
InventorEvan C. Unger
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Abstract
Novel contrast media for use in magnetic resonance imaging are described. Such contrast media are comprised of biocompatible polymers either alone or in admixture with one or more contrast agents such as paramagnetic, superparamagnetic or proton density contrast agents. Additionally, the polymers or polymer and contrast agent admixtures may be mixed with one or more biocompatible gases to increase the relaxivity of the resultant preparation, and/or with other components. In a preferable embodiment, the contrast medium is hypoosmotic.
Claims113
A contrast medium for use in magnetic resonance imaging of a patient comprising an aqueous solution or suspension of a biocompatible natural polymer in admixture with a contrast agent, wherein the contrast medium is hypoosmotic to bodily fluids of the patient.
A method of providing an image of an internal region of a patient comprising (i) administering to the patient a diagnostically effective amount of a contrast medium comprising an aqueous solution or suspension of a biocompatible natural polymer in admixture with a contrast agent, wherein the contrast medium is hypoosmotic to bodily fluids of the patient, and (ii) scanning the patient using magnetic resonance imaging to obtain visible images of the region.
A method for diagnosing the presence of diseased tissue in a patient comprising (i) administering to the patient a diagnostically effective amount of a contrast medium comprising an aqueous solution or suspension of a biocompatible natural polymer in admixture with a contrast agent, wherein the contrast medium is hypoosmotic to bodily fluids of the patient, and (ii) scanning the patient using magnetic resonance imaging to obtain visible images of any diseased tissue in the patient.
A contrast medium for magnetic resonance imaging comprising an aqueous solution or suspension of a bicompatible polymer selected from the group consisting of polygalacturonic acid, polyglucuronic acid, polymannuronic acid and hyaluronic acid, in admixture with a contrast agent.
A method of providing an image of an internal region of a patient comprising (i) administering to the patient a diagnostically effective amount of a contrast medium comprising an aqueous solution or suspension of a biocompatible polymer selected from the group consisting of polygalacturonic acid, polyglucuronic acid, polymannuronic acid, and hyaluronic acid, in admixture with a contrast agent, and (ii) scanning the patient using magnetic resonance imaging to obtain visible images of the region.
A method for diagnosing the presence of diseased tissue in a patient comprising (i) administering to the patient a diagnostically effective amount of a contrast medium comprising an aqueous solution or suspension of a biocompatible natural polymer selected from the group consisting of polygalacturonic acid, polyglucuronic acid, polymannuronic acid, and hyaluronic acid in admixture with a contrast agent, and (ii) scanning the patient using magnetic resonance imaging to obtain visible images of any diseased tissue in the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.