Patent ID: 7412279
Filing Date: 2008-08-12
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of determining the presence or absence of a thrombus, an atherosclerotic plaque, an atherosclerotic lesion, a tumor, or a thromboembolism within a vascular system of a mammal comprising: a) administering a targeted MRI contrast agent to the mammal, the targeted MRI contrast agent having a specific affinity for the thrombus, the atherosclerotic plaque, the atherosclerotic lesion, the tumor, or the thromboembolism, and the targeted MRI contrast agent further capable of providing contrast enhancement of the thrombus, the atherosclerotic plaque, the atherosclerotic lesion, the tumor, or the thromboembolism and the vascular system of the mammal; b) acquiring a first MRI data set comprising an image of the vascular system; and c) acquiring a second MRI data set, the second MRI data set acquired at a time appropriate to provide an observable level of contrast enhancement of the thrombus, the atherosclerotic plaque, the atherosclerotic lesion, the tumor, or the thromboembolism, if present, relative to background blood and tissue enhancement; wherein the targeted MRI contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of: