Patent ID: 8212554
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for identifying loci in an animal including a human that accumulate magnetically active agents comprising the steps of: inserting an intraluminal magneto sensor system including a catheter and a magneto sensor attached to a distal end of the catheter and positioning the sensor adjacent an area of interest (AOI) of the animal, administering the magnetically active agents to the animal, measuring a first magnetic field distribution of the magnetically active agents in the AOI of an animal with the magneto sensor, and determining an amount of the magnetically active agents in the AOI of the animal from the distribution to determine loci within the AOI having high accumulations of the magnetically active agents relative to other locations in the AOI, where the loci may be associated with ischemia, infarction, injury, inflammation, infection, tumor, bleeding, angiogenesis, abnormally high blood barrier permeability, abnormally high capillary permeability, clot formation, plaque, or vulnerable plaque.