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Last Updated: March 28, 2024

Claims for Patent: 4,963,344


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Summary for Patent: 4,963,344
Title: Method to enhance NMR imaging using chelated paramagnetic ions
Abstract:Agents useful for influencing the relaxation times in NMR diagnostics, contain at least one paramagnetic, physiologically compatible complex salt comprising a chelate from an open-chain or cyclic complex-forming compound containing organic nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen and/or sulfur, and a complexed ion of the lanthanide elements of atomic number 57-70 or of the transition metals of atomic numbers 21-29, 42 and 44, and, optionally, an inorganic or organic base or acid.
Inventor(s): Gries; Heinz (Berlin, DE), Rosenberg; Douwe (Berlin, DE), Weinmann; Hanns-Joachim (Berlin, DE), Speck; Ulrich (Berlin, DE), Mutzel; Wolfgang (Berlin, DE), Hayden; Georg-Alexander (Berlin, DE), Pfeiffer; Heinrich (Berlin, DE)
Assignee: Schering Aktiengesellschaft (Berlin and Bergkamen, DE)
Application Number:07/370,139
Patent Claims: 1. A method of imaging body tissue in a patient, comprising subjecting the patient to NMR tomography and prior to performing the NMR tomography administering to the patient an effective amount of a pharmaceutical agent for affecting the relaxation times of atoms in body tissue undergoing NMR diagnosis, whereby image contrast is enhanced, said agent comprising an amount, effective to affect such relaxation times, of a paramagnetic, physiologically compatible chelate complex of an ion of a lanthanide element of atomic numbers 58-70; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

2. A method of imaging body tissue in a patient, comprising subjecting the patient to NMR tomography and prior to performing the NMR tomography administering to the patient an effective amount of a pharmaceutical agent for affecting the relaxation times of atoms in body tissues undergoing NMR diagnosis, whereby image contrast is enhanced, said agent comprising an amount, effective to affect such relaxation times, of a paramagnetic, physiologically compatible chelate complex of an ion and, as a ligand, an acyclic or cyclic complexing agent containing organic nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen or sulfur, the complexed ion being an ion of a lanthanide element of atomic numbers 58-70; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

3. A method of enhancing NMR imageability of a patient comprising administering to the patient an amount, effective to enhance NMR image contrast, of a physiologically compatible chelate complex of a paramagnetic ion.

4. A method of enhancing NMR imageability of a patient comprising administering to the patient an amount, effective to enhance NMR image contrast, of a physiologically compatible chelate complex of a paramagnetic ion having as a ligand a complexing agent containing organic nitrogen, phosphorous, oxygen or sulfur.

5. A method of claim 3, wherein the complex is formulated together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

6. A method of claim 4, wherein the complex is formulated together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

7. A method of claim 5, wherein said ion is an element of atomic numbers 58-70.

8. A method of claim 6, wherein said ion is an element of atomic numbers 58-70.

9. A method of claim 5, wherein said ion is an element of atomic numbers 21-29, 42 or 44.

10. A method of claim 6, wherein said ion is an element of atomic numbers 21-29, 42 or 44.

11. A method of conducting NMR imaging, comprising NMR imaging a patient to whom there has been administered an amount effective to enhance NMR image contrast of a physiologically compatible chelate complex of a paramagnetic ion, whereby an NMR image of enhanced contrast is obtained.

12. A method of conducting NMR imaging, comprising NMR imaging a patient to whom there has been administered an amount effective to enhance NMR image contrast of a physiologically compatible chelate complex of a paramagnetic ion having as ligand a complexing agent containing organic nitrogen, phosphorous, oxygen or sulfur, whereby an NMR image of enhanced contrast is obtained.

13. A method of claim 11, wherein the complex is formulated together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

14. A method of claim 12, wherein the complex is formulated together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

15. A method of claim 13, wherein said ion is an element of atomic numbers 58-70.

16. A method of claim 14, wherein said ion is an element of atomic numbers 58-70.

17. A method of claim 13, wherein said ion is an element of atomic numbers 21-29, 42 or 44.

18. A method of claim 14, wherein said ion is an element of atomic numbers 21-29, 42 or 44.

19. A method of claim 1, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Gd(III).

20. A method of claim 2, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Gd(III).

21. A method of claim 5, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Gd(III).

22. A method of claim 6, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Gd(III).

23. A method of claim 13, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Gd(III).

24. A method of claim 14, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Gd(III).

25. A method of claim 5, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Mn(II).

26. A method of claim 6, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Mn(II).

27. A method of claim 13, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Mn(II).

28. A method of claim 14, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Mn(II).

29. A method of claim 5, wherein the paramagnetic ion is iron.

30. A method of claim 6, wherein the paramagnetic ion is iron.

31. A method of claim 13, wherein the paramagnetic ion is iron.

32. A method of claim 14, wherein the paramagnetic ion is iron.

33. A method of claim 1, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an aminopolycarboxylic acid.

34. A method of claim 2, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an aminopolycarboxylic acid.

35. A method of claim 5, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an aminopolycarboxylic acid.

36. A method of claim 6, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an aminopolycarboxylic acid.

37. A method of claim 13, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an aminopolycarboxylic acid.

38. A method of claim 14, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an aminopolycarboxylic acid.

39. A method of claim 1, wherein no free acid or free base groups are present in the chelate complex.

40. A method of claim 2, wherein no free acid or free base groups are present in the chelate complex.

41. A method of claim 5, wherein no free acid or free base groups are present in the chelate complex.

42. A method of claim 6, wherein no free acid or free base groups are present in the chelate complex.

43. A method of claim 13, wherein no free acid or free base groups are present in the chelate complex.

44. A method of claim 14, wherein no free acid or free base groups are present in the chelate complex.

45. A method of claim 1, wherein a free acid or a free base group is present in the chelate complex.

46. A method of claim 2, wherein a free acid or a free base group is present in the chelate complex.

47. A method of claim 5, wherein a free acid or a free base group is present in the chelate complex.

48. A method of claim 6, wherein a free acid or a free base group is present in the chelate complex.

49. A method of claim 13, wherein a free acid or a free base group is present in the chelate complex.

50. A method of claim 14, wherein a free acid or a free base group is present in the chelate complex.

51. A method of claim 1, wherein a free acid or a free base group of the chelate complex is in the form of a salt thereof with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

52. A method of claim 2, wherein a free acid or a free base group of the chelate complex is in the form of a salt thereof with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

53. A method of claim 5, wherein a free acid or a free base group of the chelate complex is in the form of a salt thereof with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

54. A method of claim 6, wherein a free acid or a free base group of the chelate complex is in the form of a salt thereof with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

55. A method of claim 13, wherein a free acid or a free base group of the chelate complex is in the form of a salt thereof with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

56. A method of claim 14, wherein a free acid or a free base group of the chelate complex is in the form of a salt thereof with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

57. A method of claim 1, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an open-chain chelating agent.

58. A method of claim 1, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an open-chain chelating agent.

59. A method of claim 5, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an open-chain chelating agent.

60. A method of claim 6, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an open-chain chelating agent.

61. A method of claim 13, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an open-chain chelating agent.

62. A method of claim 14, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an open-chain chelating agent.

63. A method of claim 1, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by a cyclic chelating agent.

64. A method of claim 2, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by a cyclic chelating agent.

65. A method of claim 5, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by a cyclic chelating agent.

66. A method of claim 6, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by a cyclic chelating agent.

67. A method of claim 13, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by a cyclic chelating agent.

68. A method of claim 14, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by a cyclic chelating agent.

69. A method of claim 1, wherein said chelate complex is both a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof, and also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

70. A method of claim 2, wherein said chelate complex is both a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof, and also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

71. A method of claim 5, wherein said chelate complex is both a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof, and also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

72. A method of claim 6, wherein said chelate complex is both a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof, and also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

73. A method of claim 13, wherein said chelate comlex is both a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof, and also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

74. A method of claim 14, wherein said chelate complex is both a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof, and also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

75. A method of claim 1, wherein said chelate complex is only a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof and not also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

76. A method of claim 2, wherein said chelate complex is only a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof and not also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

77. A method of claim 5, wherein said chelate complex is only a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof and not also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

78. A method of claim 6, wherein said chelate complex is only a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof and not also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

79. A method of claim 13, wherein said chelate complex is only a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof and not also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

80. A method of claim 14, wherein said chelate complex is only a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof and not also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

81. A method of claim 1, wherein the chelate complex molecule consists of a single paramagnetic ion chelated by a chelating agent which optionally is a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

82. A method of claim 2, wherein the chelate complex molecule consists of a single paramagnetic ion chelated by a chelating agent which optionally is a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

83. A method of claim 5, wherein the chelate complex molecule consists of a single paramagnetic ion chelated by a chelating agent which optionally is a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

84. A method of claim 6, wherein the chelate complex molecule consists of a single paramagnetic ion chelated by a chelating agent which optionally is a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

85. A method of claim 13, wherein the chelate complex molecule consists of a single paramagnetic ion chelated by a chelating agent which optionally is a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

86. A method of claim 14, wherein the chelate complex molecule consists of a single paramagnetic ion chelated by a chelating agent which optionally is a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

87. A method of claim 1, wherein the chelate complex is not bound to a protein.

88. A method of claim 2, wherein the chelate complex is not bound to a protein.

89. A method of claim 5, wherein the chelate complex is not bound to a protein.

90. A method of claim 6, wherein the chelate complex is not bound to a protein.

91. A method of claim 13, wherein the chelate complex is not bound to a protein.

92. A method of claim 14, wherein the chelate complex is not bound to a protein.

93. A method of claim 29, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Fe(II).

94. A method of claim 30, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Fe(II).

95. A method of claim 31, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Fe(II).

96. A method of claim 32, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Fe(II).

97. A method of imaging body tissue in a patient, comprising subjecting the patient to NMR tomography and prior to performing the NMR tomography administering to the patient an effective amount of a pharmaceutical agent for affecting the relaxation times of atoms in body tissue undergoing NMR diagnosis, whereby image contrast is enhanced, said agent comprising an amount, effective to affect such relaxation times, of a paramagnetic, physiologically compatible chelate complex of an ion of a transition metal of atomic numbers 21-29, 42, or 44; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

98. A method of imaging body tissue in a patient, comprising subjecting the patient to NMR tomography and prior to performing the NMR tomography administering to the patient an effective amount of a pharmaceutical agent for affecting the relaxation times of atoms in body tissues undergoing NMR diagnosis, whereby image contrast is enhanced, said agent comprising an amount, effective to affect such relaxation times, of a paramagnetic physiologically compatible chelate complex of an ion and, as a ligand, an acyclic or cyclic complexing agent containing organic nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen or sulfur, the complexed ion being an ion of a transition metal of atomic numbers 21-29, 42, or 44; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

99. A method of claim 97, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Mn(II).

100. A method of claim 98, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Mn(II).

101. A method of claim 97, wherein the paramagnetic ion is iron.

102. A method of claim 98, wherein the paramagnetic ion is iron.

103. A method of claim 97, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an aminopolycarboxylic acid.

104. A method of claim 98, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an aminopolycarboxylic acid.

105. A method of claim 97, wherein no free acid or free base groups are present in the chelate complex.

106. A method of claim 98, wherein no free acid or free base groups are present in the chelate complex.

107. A method of claim 97, wherein a free acid or a free base group is present in the chelate complex.

108. A method of claim 98, wherein a free acid or a free base group is present in the chelate complex.

109. A method of claim 97, wherein a free acid or a free base group of the chelate complex is in the form of a salt thereof with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

110. A method of claim 98, wherein a free acid or a free base group of the chelate complex is in the form of a salt thereof with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

111. A method of claim 97, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an open-chain chelating agent.

112. A method of claim 98, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an open-chain chelating agent.

113. A method of claim 97, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by a cyclic chelating agent.

114. A method of claim 98, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by a cyclic chelating agent.

115. A method of claim 97, wherein said chelate complex is both a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof, and also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

116. A method of claim 98, wherein said chelate complex is both a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof, and also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

117. A method of claim 97, wherein said chelate complex is only a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof and not also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

118. A method of claim 98, wherein said chelate complex is only a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof and not also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

119. A method of claim 97, wherein the chelate complex molecule consists of a single paramagnetic ion chelated by a chelating agent which optionally is a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

120. A method of claim 98, wherein the chelate complex molecule consists of a single paramagnetic ion chelated by a chelating agent which optionally is a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

121. A method of claim 97, wherein the chelate complex is not bound to a protein.

122. A method of claim 98, wherein the chelate complex is not bound to a protein.

123. A method of claim 101, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Fe(II).

124. A method of claim 102, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Fe(II).

125. A method of claim 1, wherein the patient is a human.

126. A method of claim 2, wherein the patient is a human.

127. A method of claim 5, wherein the patient is a human.

128. A method of claim 6, wherein the patient is a human.

129. A method of claim 13, wherein the patient is a human.

130. A method of claim 14, wherein the patient is a human.

131. A method of claim 97, wherein the patient is a human.

132. A method of claim 98, wherein the patient is a human.

133. A method of enhancing an NMR image, comprising obtaining an enhanced NMR image by NMR imaging a human to whom there has been administered an amount, effective to enhance NMR image contrast, of a physiologically compatible chelate complex of a paramagnetic ion.

134. A method of claim 133, wherein the complex is formulated together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

135. A method of claim 134, wherein said ion is an element of atomic numbers 58-70.

136. A method of claim 134, wherein said ion is an element of atomic numbers 21-29, 42 or 44.

137. A method of claim 134, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Gd(III).

138. A method of claim 134, wherein the paramagnetic ion is Mn(II).

139. A method of claim 134, wherein the paramagnetic ion is iron.

140. A method of claim 134, wherein the paramagentic ion is Fe(II).

141. A method of claim 134, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an aminopolycarboxylic acid.

142. A method of claim 134, wherein no free acid or free base groups are present in the chelate complex.

143. A method of claim 134, wherein a free acid or a free base group is present in the chelate complex.

144. A method of claim 134, wherein a free acid or a free base group of the chelate complex is in the form of a salt thereof with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

145. A method of claim 134, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by an open-chain chelating agent.

146. A method of claim 134, wherein the paramagnetic ion is chelated by a cyclic chelating agent.

147. A method of claim 134, wherein said chelate complex is both a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof, and also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

148. A method of claim 134, wherein said chelate complex is only a salt of said paramagnetic ion and the chelate complexing agent thereof and not also a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

149. A method of claim 134, wherein the chelate complex molecule consists of a single paramagnetic ion chelated by a chelating agent which optionally is a salt with an inorganic or organic base or acid.

150. A method of claim 134, wherein the chelate complex is not bound to a protein.

151. A method of claim 1, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

152. A method of claim 2, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

153. A method of claim 5, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

154. A method of claim 6, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

155. A method of claim 13, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

156. A method of claim 14, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

157. A method of claim 23, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

158. A method of claim 27, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

159. A method of claim 31, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

160. A method of claim 61, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

161. A method of claim 67, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

162. A method of claim 97, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

163. A method of claim 98, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

164. A method of claim 133, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

165. A method of claim 137, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

166. A method of claim 138, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

167. A method of claim 139, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

168. A method of claim 145, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

169. A method of claim 146, wherein the chelate complex is nonionic.

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