Systems and methods of detecting interstitial cystitis
Inventors
Kaufman, Jonathan • Chancellor, Michael B.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12326492-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention provides systems and methods for providing a diagnostic examination to a patient, including, but not limited to a determination of the permeability of a patients' body cavity.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method for measuring permeability of a body cavity in a patient by using a dual T1-reducing contrast agent and a T2-reducing contrast agent. A composition containing both contrast agents is administered directly into or onto the body cavity, which comprises a lumen and a luminal surface, and imaging is performed after administration to evaluate diffusion behavior.
The core measurement is determining diffusion of the T1-reducing contrast agent from the lumen across the luminal surface, where such diffusion is indicative of permeability of the body cavity. The permeability is associated with pathologic breakdown of one or more layers of the body cavity, while the T2-reducing contrast agent is retained within the lumen so the diffusion assessment is focused on the T1-reducing agent crossing the luminal surface.
The body cavity is urinary bladder or ureters. The approach is described as producing a characteristic bright ring MRI pattern when the barrier is permeable, based on diffusion of the T1-reducing agent across the luminal surface while the T2-reducing agent remains in the lumen, and it further supports heterogeneity mapping.
Claims Coverage
The document contains two independent method claims with the same core inventive concept: administer a composition with both a T1-reducing and a T2-reducing contrast agent to a cavity, image the cavity, and determine permeability by diffusion of the T1-reducing contrast agent across the luminal surface while the T2-reducing contrast agent is retained in the lumen; each claim further limits the cavity to urinary bladder or ureters.
Direct dual contrast administration to a body cavity for permeability measurement
Administering a composition comprising a T1-reducing contrast agent and a T2-reducing contrast agent directly into or onto the body cavity of the patient, the body cavity comprising a lumen and a luminal surface, the lumen having the T1-reducing contrast agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent.
Permeability indication via diffusion of the T1-reducing contrast agent across the luminal surface
Determining diffusion of the T1-reducing contrast agent from the lumen of the body cavity across the luminal surface of the body cavity, wherein diffusion of the T1-reducing contrast agent across the luminal surface is indicative of permeability of the body cavity associated with pathologic breakdown of one or more layers of the body cavity.
T2-reducing agent retention in the lumen
Wherein the T2-reducing contrast agent is retained within the lumen.
Urinary bladder or ureters cavity limitation
Wherein the body cavity is urinary bladder or ureters.
Imaging after administration to determine diffusion-based permeability
Imaging the body cavity in the patient after administering a composition comprising a T1-reducing contrast agent and a T2-reducing contrast agent directly into or onto the body cavity of the patient, the body cavity comprising a lumen and a luminal surface, the lumen having the T1-reducing contrast agent and the T2-reducing contrast agent.
Across both independent claims, the coverage centers on dual T1/T2 contrast administration to a luminal cavity, imaging of the cavity, and determining permeability from diffusion of the T1-reducing contrast agent across the luminal surface while the T2-reducing contrast agent remains retained in the lumen; the cavity is limited to urinary bladder or ureters and the diffusion is linked to pathologic breakdown of one or more layers.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Measuring permeability associated with pathologic breakdown of one or more layers of the urinary bladder or ureters using dual T1/T2 contrast agent diffusion assessment on MRI, including bright-ring diffusion patterns and heterogeneity mapping.
Interested in licensing this patent?