Method to Assess Vascular Endothelial Function using Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Angiography

Endothelial function is crucial in maintaining cardiovascular health. FMD is a noninvasive method of evaluating endothelial function. Impaired FMD measured by ultrasound correlates with cardiovascular risk factors, predicts the presence and severity of coronary artery disease, and predicts adverse cardiovascular events. Intense and widespread interest exists in developing FMD for use by practitioners to predict cardiovascular risk and to guide therapy in individuals. The ultrasound FMD technique has important limitations that are overcome by our MRI FMD technique. Our MRI method compares the high-flow shear stress stimulus in the artery to the vasodilation response. Because of 1) the ability to compare stimulus to response, 2) imaging repeatedly a fixed arterial cross-section, and 3) non-operator dependence, our MRI-based method potenially increased reproducibility and accuracy in assessing endothelial function and cardiovascular risk in individuals. Description (Set) Proposed Use (Set) Our MRI-based method of evaluating vascular endothelial function has potential for widespread use in identifying noninvasively individuals at risk of having or developing coronary artery disease. It could also be used to guide therapy in individuals who are at risk for developing coronary artery disease or who have known coronary artery disease.

Patent (Set) 6,654,628

Patents:
US 6,654,628

Inventor(s): Lima, Joao A.C.

Type of Offer: Licensing



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