Patent ID: 6311086
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: A61K,G01R

Abstract:
A method of MR investigation of a sample said method comprising:(i) placing in a uniform magnetic field a composition comprising an Overhauser magnetic resonance imaging (OMRI) contrast agent and a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging agent containing in its molecular structure nuclei capable of emitting magnetic resonance signals and having a T.sub.1 relaxation time of 6 s or more, when at 37.degree. C. in D.sub.2 O in a field of 7T;(ii) exposing said composition to a first radiation of a frequency selected to excite electron spin transitions in said OMRI contrast agent and thereby cause a nuclear spin polarisation of said nuclei;(iii) optionally but preferably separating the whole, substantially the whole, or a portion of said OMRI contrast agent from said MR imaging agent;(iv) administering said MR imaging agent to said sample;(v) exposing said sample to a second radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions;(vi) detecting magnetic resonance signals from said sample; and(vii) optionally, generating an image or dynamic flow data from said detected signals.