Infusion procedure for enhancing image quality
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Publication Number
US-12390578-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed are methods of radioisotope infusion comprising infusing saline comprising a diagnostic dose of a radioisotope, and delivering a pre-measured volume of push saline. The radioisotope may be 82Rb, 15O, 13N, 11C or 18F. The radioisotope is infused in the subject for imaging of the heart using Positron Emission Tomography imaging. The methods confer improved image quality with low background noise, higher signal to noise ratio (SNR) and higher contrast to noise ratio (CNR), leading to better diagnosis and thus eliminating the need of repeating the infusion and imaging which in turn reduces exposure of a patient to radiation.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a radioisotope infusion for PET heart imaging in which saline containing a diagnostic dose of a selected PET radioisotope is infused into a peripheral vein. The method uses a controller, an infusion line, and a pump communicatively coupled to the controller to deliver the diagnostic dose at a first flow rate, and the radioisotope is selected from 82Rb, 15O, 13N, 11C, and 18F.
After infusing the diagnostic-dose saline at the first flow rate, the controller and pump deliver a pre-measured volume of push saline to the peripheral vein in two or more increments. Each increment has an equal fraction of the pre-measured push-saline volume, and each increment is delivered at a push saline flow rate that is about 5 mL/min to about 60 mL/min and is equal to or higher than the first flow rate, where the increment flow rates may be the same or different.
The disclosed infusion approach is described as improving diagnostic image quality by reducing low background noise and increasing signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio. The method is also described as increasing image counts and reducing the coefficient of variance, while reducing a need to repeat infusion/imaging.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent methods. Across these independent claims, the core inventive features are controlled infusion of saline with a diagnostic dose of a selected PET radioisotope into a peripheral vein at a defined first flow rate, controlled delivery of a pre-measured push saline volume in two or more increments at a push saline flow rate equal to or higher than the first flow rate, and use of the selected radioisotope as the imaging agent for heart diagnostic imaging.
Peripheral vein diagnostic-dose infusion at a first flow rate range
Infusing a volume of saline containing a diagnostic dose of the radioisotope from the infusion line into a peripheral vein of the subject at a first flow rate that is about 5 mL/min to about 60 mL/min.
Pre-measured push saline in equal-fraction increments at a push flow rate that is at least the first flow rate
Using the controller and pump to deliver a pre-measured volume of push saline in two or more increments to the peripheral vein, wherein each increment is an equal fraction of the pre-measured volume and each increment is delivered at a push saline flow rate that is about 5 mL/min to about 60 mL/min and equal to or higher than the first flow rate, with the push saline flow rates of the increments may be the same or different.
Heart diagnostic imaging using the selected radioisotope as an imaging agent
Obtaining a diagnostic image of the subject's heart using the radioisotope as an imaging agent.
Radioisotope selected from a specified PET radioisotope group
The radioisotope is selected from the group consisting of 82Rb, 15O, 13N, 11C, and 18F.
Claim coverage centers on controlled delivery of a saline diagnostic-dose infusion into a peripheral vein at a first flow rate, followed by delivery of a pre-measured push saline volume in increments where the push saline flow rate is equal to or higher than the first flow rate, and use of the selected radioisotope as an imaging agent to obtain a heart diagnostic image. The radioisotope selection is limited to 82Rb, 15O, 13N, 11C, and 18F.
Stated Advantages
Reduced low background noise.
Increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR).
Higher image counts.
Reduced coefficient of variance.
Reduced need to repeat infusion/imaging.
Reduced patient radiation exposure.
Documented Applications
PET heart imaging using infusion of saline containing a diagnostic dose of a selected radioisotope into a peripheral vein, followed by push saline delivery.
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