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US4940055A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-resolution spectral signature of human arterial plaque
Assignee: UVA Licensing and Ventures Group
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Filing: 1987-11-03
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Granted: 1990-07-10
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Expires: 2007-11-03
Abstract
Abstract Noninvasive method of identifying and quantifying constituents of arterial plaque, comprising subjecting arterial walls to proton NMR spectroscopy or magnetic resonance imaging and looking for sharp spectral lines indicative of the accumulation of lipids within the walls of human arterial blood vessels, and detecting early changes to arterial walls due to atherogenesis. Also this method can be used to obtain information regarding chemical composition of atheroma in situ comprising subjecting an aortic wall to NMR spectroscopy or magnetic resonance imaging and observing spectral peaks indicative of accumulation of lipids within the aortic wall. Magnetic resonance imaging may also be used for this noninvasive method of diagnosing and monitoring atherosclerosis.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael F. Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/483; G01R33/46; G01R33/465; G01R33/54; G01R33/56; G01R33/563
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
The noninvasive method of identifying and quantifying constituents of arterial plaque comprising subjecting arterial walls to localized proton NMR spectroscopy, obtaining a proton NMR spectra and evaluating the proton NMR spectra exclusive of water for sharp spectral lines indicative accumulation of lipids in walls of human arterial blood vessels and detecting early changes to arterial walls due to atherogenesis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
The noninvasive method of identifying and quantifying constituents of arterial plaque comprising subjecting arterial walls to localized proton NMR spectroscopy, obtaining a proton NMR spectra and evaluating the proton NMR spectra exclusive of water for sharp spectral lines indicative accumulation of lipids in walls of human arterial blood vessels and detecting early changes to arterial walls due to atherogenesis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the looking for sharp spectral lines comprises the evaluating the spectra for methylene, vinyl, methine and allylic peaks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the evaluating comprises evaluating the spectra for methylene peaks.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of obtaining information regarding chemical composition of atheroma in situ comprising subjecting an aortic wall to localized proton NMR spectroscopy, obtaining a proton NMR spectra and evaluating the proton NMR spectra exclusive of water for spectral peaks indicative of accumulation of lipids in the aortic wall.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of obtaining information regarding chemical composition of atheroma in situ comprising subjecting an aortic wall to localized proton NMR spectroscopy, obtaining a proton NMR spectra and evaluating the proton NMR spectra exclusive of water for spectral peaks indicative of accumulation of lipids in the aortic wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the evaluating comprises evaluating the spectra for tertiary methyl, secondary methyl, methylene, vinyl methine and allylic peaks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The noninvasive method of diagnosing and monitoring atherosclerosis, comprising the steps of subjecting arterial walls to a nuclei yielding spectral lines apparatus, obtaining a spectra exclusive of water and evaluating the spectra for sharp spectral lines indicative of accumulation of lipids in walls of human arterial blood vessels and detecting early changes to arterial walls due to atherogenesis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The noninvasive method of diagnosing and monitoring atherosclerosis, comprising the steps of subjecting arterial walls to a nuclei yielding spectral lines apparatus, obtaining a spectra exclusive of water and evaluating the spectra for sharp spectral lines indicative of accumulation of lipids in walls of human arterial blood vessels and detecting early changes to arterial walls due to atherogenesis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the nuclei yielding spectral lines apparatus is a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus which spatially encodes the NMR signals due to atheromatous lipids.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-09 | 1994-01-08 | 1994-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-09 | 1998-01-08 | 1998-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-09 | 2002-01-08 | 2002-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |