Composition apparatus and method for use in imaging
In one embodiment, a composition comprises a microparticle including a radioactive isotope and an imageable element. In another embodiment, a method includes forming a microparticle including a target isotope and an enriched paramagnetic isotope, and transforming the target isotope into a radioactive isotope. In yet another embodiment, an apparatus includes an imaging system to image a subject; and a radioactive microparticle suitable for infusion into the subject for imaging by the imaging system and including an enriched paramagnetic isotope that is enriched to reduce generation of radioactive impurities while maintaining or improving imaging sensitivity.
1 . A composition comprising
a microparticle including a radioactive isotope and an imageable element.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the imageable element comprises a paramagnetic material.
3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the imageable element comprises an enriched paramagnetic isotope.
4 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the enriched paramagnetic isotope is enriched to a concentration after enrichment of at least about 90%.
5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the imageable element comprises a radiopaque material.
6 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein the radiopaque material comprises enriched Pb-206.
7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the microparticle comprises a microsphere.
8 . The composition of claim 7 , wherein the radioactive isotope comprises Y-90.
9 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the enriched paramagnetic isotope comprises Fe-57.
10 . A composition comprising:
a material including a radioactive isotope; and
a dopant included in the material, the dopant including an enriched paramagnetic isotope.
11 . The composition of claim 10 , wherein the material comprises a solid.
12 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein the enriched paramagnetic isotope comprises Gd-155.
13 . The composition of claim 10 , wherein the material comprises a liquid.
14 . The composition of claim 10 , wherein the material comprises a gas.
15 . The composition of claim 14 , wherein the enriched paramagnetic isotope comprises O-17.
16 . A method comprising:
forming a microparticle including a target isotope and an enriched paramagnetic isotope; and
transforming the target isotope into a radioactive isotope.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein forming the microparticle including the target isotope and the enriched paramagnetic isotope comprises:
forming the enriched paramagnetic isotope on a surface of the microparticle.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein forming the microparticle including the target isotope and the enriched paramagnetic isotope comprises:
enriching the enriched paramagnetic isotope to a concentration of at least about 90%.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein transforming the target isotope into the radioactive isotope comprises:
transforming the target isotope into the radioactive isotope without forming a substantial number of undesired isotopes.
20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
infusing the microparticle into living tissue to form a distribution of microparticles in the living tissue; and
imaging the hydrogen near the microparticles.
21 . A method comprising:
forming a microparticle including Y-89;
doping the microparticle with an enriched paramagnetic isotope; and
transforming the Y-89 into Y-90.
22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
infusing the microparticle into living tissue to form a distribution of microparticles in the living tissue; and
imaging the distribution of microparticles to provide information for analyzing the distribution of the microparticles.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein imaging the distribution of microparticles to provide information for analyzing the distribution of the microparticles comprises:
using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to image the distribution of microparticles.
24 . A method, comprising:
selecting a paramagnetic material that requires more than one neutron capture to create a radioactive impurity;
selecting a material that activates as a result of nuclear particle absorption before the paramagnetic material acquires two neutrons; and
forming a composition including the material and the paramagnetic material.
25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising:
introducing the composition into a subject.
26 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising:
forming an image of the composition and the subject by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
27 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising:
forming and analyzing an image of the composition to determine whether a disease is present in the subject.
28 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising:
treating a disease with the composition; and
forming an image of the composition using an imaging system.
29 . The method of claim 24 , wherein forming the composition including the material and the paramagnetic material comprises:
activating the composition through nuclear particle absorption.
30 . An apparatus comprising:
an imaging system to image a subject; and
a radioactive microparticle suitable for infusion into the subject for imaging by the imaging system and including an enriched paramagnetic isotope that is enriched to reduce generation of radioactive impurities while maintaining or improving imaging sensitivity.
31 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the imaging system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system.
32 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the enriched paramagnetic isotope comprises:
a material capable of neutron activation having a first neutron absorption cross-section; and
a paramagnetic isotope having a second neutron absorption cross-section within a factor of about 1000 of the first neutron absorption cross-section and which requires more than one neutron capture to create a radioactive impurity.
33 . A method comprising:
forming a radioactive material including a detectable element;
infusing the radioactive material including the detectable element into a subject; and
treating a disease in the subject with radiation emitted from the radioactive material and substantially simultaneously imaging the detectable element.
34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein forming the radioactive material including the detectable element comprises:
forming the radioactive material through activation by nuclear particle absorption.
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein forming the radioactive material through activation by nuclear particle absorption comprises:
forming the radioactive material by absorption of neutrons, protons, particles heavier than protons, deuterium+, tritium+, or helium++.
36 . The method of claim 34 , wherein imaging the detectable element comprises:
imaging the detectable element using computer-aided tomography (CT).
37 . The method of claim 34 , wherein imaging the detectable element comprises:
imaging the detectable element using fluoroscopy.
38 . The method of claim 34 , wherein imaging the detectable element comprises:
imaging the detectable element using positron emission tomography (PET).
39 . The method of claim 33 , wherein infusing the radioactive material including the paramagnetic isotope into the subject having the disease comprises:
infusing the radioactive material including the paramagnetic isotope into a living animal.
40 . A method comprising:
forming a radioactive material including a detectable element;
infusing the radioactive material including the detectable element into a subject; and
analyzing a disease state in the subject through the substantially simultaneous use of a plurality of imaging systems.
41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein forming the radioactive material including the detectable element comprises:
forming the radioactive material through activation by nuclear particle absorption of a target material including the detectable element.
42 . A method comprising:
forming a radioactive material including an enriched paramagnetic isotope;
infusing the radioactive material including the enriched paramagnetic isotope into a subject; and
analyzing a disease state in the subject through the substantially simultaneous use of a plurality of imaging systems.
43 . The method of claim 42 , wherein forming the radioactive material including the paramagnetic isotope comprises:
forming the radioactive material through activation by nuclear particle absorption.
44 . The method of claim 42 , wherein infusing the radioactive material including the paramagnetic isotope into the subject comprises:
delivering the radioactive material including the paramagnetic isotope in the form of one or more microspheres to the subject where the subject includes a mammal.
45 . The method of claim 42 , wherein analyzing the disease state in the subject through the substantially simultaneous imaging using a plurality of imaging systems comprises:
analyzing the disease state using a magnetic resonance imaging and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
46 . An apparatus comprising:
an imaging system to image a subject; and
a microparticle suitable for infusion into the subject for imaging by the imaging system and including an enriched paramagnetic isotope that is enriched to reduce generation of radioactive impurities while maintaining or improving imaging sensitivity.
47 . The apparatus of claim 46 , wherein the imaging system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system.
48 . The apparatus of claim 46 , wherein the microparticle comprises:
a material capable of neutron activation having a first neutron absorption cross-section; and
a paramagnetic isotope having a second neutron absorption cross-section within a factor of about 1000 of the first neutron absorption cross-section and which requires more than one neutron capture to create a radioactive impurity.
49 . A composition comprising:
a microparticle including Y-90 and an enriched paramagnetic material Fe-57.
50 . The composition of claim 49 , wherein the microparticle comprises a microsphere.