Patent ID: 9322895
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: A61B,G01N,G01R

Claim Text:
1. A method of imaging the ability for aerobic metabolism in a target area of an organism using magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI), the method comprising the steps of: i) intravenously administering an oxygen carrier to said organism; ii) baseline imaging the target area of the organism using MRSI; iii) calculating a first baseline lactate imaging signal from said baseline imaging across the target area of the organism; iv) after said baseline imaging, administering supplemental oxygen to said organism by inhalation; v) second imaging the target area of the organism using MRSI following administration of said supplemental oxygen by inhalation; vi) calculating a second lactate imaging signal from said second imaging across the target area of the organism; vii) comparing said first baseline lactate imaging signal and said second lactate imaging signal wherein a significant difference between the first baseline lactate imaging signal and the second lactate imaging signal relates to a relative change in lactate concentration across said target area following administration of said supplemental oxygen by inhalation, wherein the MRSI used comprises a sequence of pulses which suppress the water and fat signal and optimise the lactate signal, and viii) identifying tissue with no significant difference between the first baseline lactate imaging signal and the second lactate imaging signal as tissue with normal aerobic metabolism; ix) identifying tissue with: (i) a higher relative first baseline lactate imaging signal than tissue with normal aerobic metabolism, and (ii) with either: no significant difference between the first baseline lactate imaging signal and the second lactate imaging signal; or an increase in the lactate signal from the first baseline lactate imaging signal to the second lactate imaging signal as non-viable ischemic or infarcted tissue with no ability for aerobic metabolism; and x) identifying tissue having a decrease in lactate signal from the first baseline lactate imaging signal to the second lactate imaging signal as metabolically viable ischemic tissue with an ability for aerobic metabolism.