Patent ID: 7608249

Claim:
A method of obtaining images comprising: administering a paramagnetic chelate complex comprising a lanthanide metal ion with atomic number ranging from 58 to 70, or a transition metal ion with atomic number from 21 to 29 and from 42 and 44 and a chelating ligand selected from, 10-[(3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazaciclododecane-1,4,7-tris-[(aminocarbonyl)methyl], and 10-[(3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazaciclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, which non covalently binds with a binding strength of at least 10M-1 to a substrate molecule, thereby shortening the relaxation times of the magnetic nuclei of the substrate molecule by forming a non-covalent reversible binding between the substrate and the paramagnetic chelate complex and registering the image of the substrate molecule in a human or animal body organ or tissue by use of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques, wherein said image is obtained in vivo and wherein said substrate molecule is an endogenous substrate selected from lactate, citrate, carbonate, phosphate, pyruvate, natural amino-acids, oxalate, tartrate, succinate, choline, creatine, acetate, and malonate in a human or animal body organ or tissue.