Method and apparatus for administration of contrast agents for use in magnetic resonance arteriography

A method of imaging an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, comprising,

• collecting image data;
• and
• administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient while collecting image data, by intravenous infusion, at a rate of infusion sufficient to provide a substantially elevated concentration of the contrast agent in artery relative to adjacent veins during collection of image data corresponding to a center of k-space.

A method of imaging an artery in a patient using a gadolinium chelate, comprising,

• collecting image data;
• and p1 administering the gadolinium chelate to the patietn, by intravenous infusion, at a rate of infusion which provideds a maximum concentration of the gadolinium chelate in an artery relative to the adjacent veins during collection of image data corresponding to a center of k-spae.

A method for administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent into a vein of a patient to enhance a magnetic resonance image of an artery of the patient, the method including:

• collecting image data;
• and
• administering the contrast agent into the vein at an infusion rate and for a period of time sufficient to provide a maximum concentration of the contrast agent in the artery during collection of at least a portion of the image data which corresponds to a center of k-space.

The method of claim 18 wherein the step of administering the contrast agent to the patient further includes administering a paramagnetic contrast agent at a rate of infusion which is greater than 0.0015 Liters/Kg-sec.sup.2 divided by a relaxivity of the contrast agent.

An apparatus for administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent into a vein of a patient to enhance a magnetic resonance image of an artery of the patient, the apparatus comprises:

• an infusion mechanism, including infusion means for matching an infusion rate with a mapping of at least a portion of k-space and for infusing the contrast agent at rate sufficient to provide a substantially elevated concentration of the contrast agent in the artery during collection of at least a portion of image data which corresponds to a center of k-space.

A method of imaging an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:

• administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient;
• and
• collecting image data which is representative of a center of k-space when a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins adjacent to the artery.

A method of imaging at least a portion of an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging comprising, performing a 3D gradient echo pulse sequence to obtain an image of the artery, including,

• administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient;
• and
• collecting image data for imaging the artery including collecting data which is representative of a center of k-space when a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially elevated.

A method of imaging a portion of an artery in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, said method comprising,

• administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient;
• and
• collecting a portion of image data which is representative of a center of k-space while a concentration of the contrast agent in the artery is substantially elevated.