Abstract: A system and method for generating a report regarding a vascular health status of a subject being imaged using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes receiving a plurality of MRI datasets, each MRI dataset acquired from the a portion of the subject including a vascular structure. The process also includes analyzing the MRI datasets to identify at least one of a temporal shift and a MR signal variation between the MRI datasets, correlating the at least one of the temporal shift and the MR signal variation to a vascular health status, and generating a report indicating the vascular health status of the subject.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, an image analysis software product, and a system for medical imaging analysis for estimating contrast agent extravasation in contrast agent based perfusion imaging such as MRI dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) imaging, and in particular correction, compensation, or visualization of extravascular leakage of contrast agent in tumors. According to the invention, the effect of extravasation is directly manifested in the tail part of an observed, apparent residue function, R?(t), obtained directly by de-convoluting the expression C(t)=R?(t)Cp?(t) with the arterial input function (AIF). A leakage rate or extravasation constant is determined directly from the tail part of the determined apparent residue function.

Abstract: The invention relates to segmenting blood vessels in perfusion MR images, more particularly, the invention relates to automated vessel removal in identified tumor regions prior to tumor grading. Pixels from a perfusion related map from dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) MR images are clustered into arterial pixels and venous pixels by e.g. a k-means class cluster analysis. The analysis applies parameters representing the degree to which the tissue entirely consists of blood (such as relative blood volume (rBV), peak enhancement (?R2max) and/or post first-pass enhancement level (?R2p)) and parameters representing contrast arrival time at the tissue (such as first moment of the area (fmAUC) and/or contrast arrival time (T0)). The artery and venous pixels are used to form a vessel mask. The invention also relates to a computer aided diagnostic (CAD) system for tumor grading, comprising automated tumor segmentation, vessel segmentation, and tumor grading.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is to make possible a non-invasive grading of a tumor based on parameters determined from a frequency distribution (histogram) of values in a map representing cerebral blood volume (CBV) or cellular metabolism in the tumor. The method is especially applicable to brain tumors such as gliomas where histological grading is difficult. The invention provides a precise and consistent grading since it relies on values selected from the whole tumor (not just from hot spots); since it takes the diversity or heterogeneity of the vascularization into account by analyzing the frequency distribution (not just a mean value); and since it involves and allows for a more automated procedure wherein any subjective contributions from human operators is not critical to the resulting grading. CBV maps may be obtained by perfusion imaging using MRI or CT scanning. Cellular metabolism maps may be obtained from a glucose metabolism map obtained by positron emission tomography (PET).

Abstract: The invention relates to segmenting blood vessels in perfusion MR images, more particularly, the invention relates to automated vessel removal in identified tumor regions prior to tumor grading. Pixels from a perfusion related map from dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) MR images are clustered into arterial pixels and venous pixels by e.g. a k-means class cluster analysis. The analysis applies parameters representing the degree to which the tissue entirely consists of blood (such as relative blood volume (rBV), peak enhancement (?R2max) and/or post first-pass enhancement level (?R2p)) and parameters representing contrast arrival time at the tissue (such as first moment of the area (fmAUC) and/or contrast arrival time (T0)). The artery and venous pixels are used to form a vessel mask. The invention also relates to a computer aided diagnostic (CAD) system for tumor grading, comprising automated tumor segmentation, vessel segmentation, and tumor grading.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of imaging of an animate human or non-human animal body, which method comprises: administering parenterally to said body a particulate material comprising a matrix or membrane material and at least one contrast generating species, which matrix or membrane material is responsive to a pre-selected physiological parameter whereby to alter the contrast efficacy of said species in response to a change in the value of said parameter; generating image data of at least part of said body in which said species is present; and generating therefrom a signal indicative of the value or variation of said parameter in said part of said body. The invention also relates to contrast media for imaging a physiological parameter.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is to make possible a non-invasive grading of a tumor based on parameters determined from a frequency distribution (histogram) of values in a map representing cerebral blood volume (CBV) or cellular metabolism in the tumour. The method is especially applicable to brain tumors such as gliomas where histological grading is difficult. The invention provides a precise and consistent grading since it relies on values selected from the whole tumor (not just from hot spots); since it takes the diversity or heterogeneity of the vascularization into account by analyzing the frequency distribution (not just a mean value); and since it involves and allows for a more automated procedure wherein any subjective contributions from human operators is not critical to the resulting grading. CBV maps may be obtained by perfusion imaging using MRI or CT scanning. Cellular metabolism maps may be obtained from a glucose metabolism map obtained by positron emission tomography (PET).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of imaging of an animate human or non-human animal body, which method comprises: administering parenterally to said body a particulate material comprising a matrix or membrane material and at least one contrast generating species, which matrix or membrane material is responsive to a pre-selected physiological parameter whereby to alter the contrast efficacy of said species in response to a change in the value of said parameter; generating image data of at least part of said body in which said species is present; and generating therefrom a signal indicative of the value or variation of said parameter in said part of said body. The invention also relates to contrast media for imaging a physioloogical parameter.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of magnetic resonance imaging of regional blood oxygenation which comprises administering into the vasculature of a vascularized human or non-human animal subject a T2 blood pool contrast agent, detecting a magnetic resonance signal from at least part of the vasculature of said subject into which said contrast agent distributes, and manipulating said signal to generate an indication of the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in at least part of said vasculature.

Abstract: A method of MR imaging to monitor the status of any chronic and/or acute inflammatory disease, in particular to the use of MR imaging to monitor and assess the inflammatory response to organ transplants wherein a blood-pool MR contrast agent composition is administered.

Abstract: A method of contrast-enhanced MR imaging to detect abnormal microvasculature, administering a superparamagnetic iron oxide blood pool magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent into the vasculature of a human or vascularized non-human body, generating T1- and/or T2 and T2*-weighted magnetic resonance images of at least part of the said body into which said agent distributes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a set of aqueous marker compositions, each composition having a selected 1/Ti value which is substantially invariant over an at least 10° C. temperature range between 15 and 40° C. and preferably over an at least ±2% magnetic field strength range about a selected field strength value between 0.01 and 5T and comprising an aqueous matrix material having a non-zero 1/Ti temperature dependence within said temperature range with distributed therein a first paramagnetic material having a Ti relaxivity which is substantially invariant within said range(s) and/or a second paramagnetic material having within said ranges(s) and T1 relaxivity which has a non-zero temperature dependence of opposite polarity to the temperature dependence of 1/Ti of said matrix material, said set containing a plurality of said compositions with different selected 1/Ti values preferably encompassing at least the range 1.0 to 2.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of magnetic resonance imaging of regional blood oxygenation which comprises administering into the vasculature of a vascularized human or non-human animal subject a T2 blood pool contrast agent, detecting a magnetic resonance signal from at least part of the vasculature of said subject into which said contrast agent distributes, and manipulating said signal to generate an indication of the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in at least part of said vasculature.