Inventors:
Kostaki G. Bis - Bloomfield Hills MI
Anil N. Shetty - Troy MI
Assignee:
Magnetic Moments, L.L.C. - Bloomfield MI
International Classification:
A61B 505
US Classification:
600420, 600424, 600431433-, 600434, 600435, 604523, 604532, 604537, 604 65, 604 66, 604 31, 604118
Abstract:
A three-dimensional method of imaging the coronary arteries and coronary artery bypass grafts using a catheter contrast enhanced technique. The method involves the percutaneous placement of a catheter via the lower or upper extremity arterial circulation and engaging the distal end of the catheter into the aortic root with subsequent injection of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or iodinated contrast agent and performing rapid first pass imaging with either magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or computed tomographic angiography (CTA) techniques, respectively. Furthermore, a three dimensional catheter is used which includes a plurality of small distal round openings which are situated at the immediate distal end of the catheter near the small end-hole opening. The immediate distal end of the catheter is pre-formed having a memory and a three-dimensional, instead of a two-dimensional, curve to enhance the delivery of contrast to the aortic root for subsequent delivery of contrast to the coronary arteries. The distal three-dimensional curve is coiled or spirally shaped like a bell.