Apparatus and method for imaging currents using nanoparticles and low-field magnetic resonance imaging (mri)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018303373-A1
Application number	US-201715493715-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2017
Priority date	Apr 21, 2017
Publication date	Oct 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for imaging in connection with electrical currents includes nanoparticles introduced into a region in which the electrical currents are present. A low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner detects an effect of a magnetic field generated by interaction of the nanoparticles with the electrical currents in the region. The MRI scanner operates at a magnetic field intensity below a level at which the nanoparticles would be magnetically saturated.

First claim

1 . A method of imaging in connection with electrical currents, comprising:
introducing nanoparticles into a region in which the electrical currents are present; and detecting an effect of a magnetic field generated by interaction of the nanoparticles with the electrical currents in the region, using a low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, the MRI scanner operating at a magnetic field intensity below a level at which the nanoparticles would be magnetically saturated.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical currents are neuronal currents.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the region comprises at least a portion of a human brain.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field intensity is below 0.1 Tesla.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise a ferromagnetic material.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise a ferroelectric material.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise a ferroelectric material.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise cobalt ferrite.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise barium titanate.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise barium titanate.

11 . A system for imaging in connection with electrical currents, comprising:
nanoparticles in a region in which the electrical currents are present; and a low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner for detecting an effect of a magnetic field generated by interaction of the nanoparticles with the electrical currents in the region, the MRI scanner operating at a magnetic field intensity below a level at which the nanoparticles would be magnetically saturated.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the electrical currents are neuronal currents.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the region comprises at least a portion of a human brain.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic field intensity is below 0.1 Tesla.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise a ferromagnetic material.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise a ferroelectric material.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise a ferroelectric material.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise cobalt ferrite.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise barium titanate.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise barium titanate.

Assignees

• Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc
• The Massachusetts General Hospital

Inventors

• Freeman Daniel K
• Rosen Matthew

Classifications

• G01R33/445

  MR involving a non-standard magnetic field B0, e.g. of low magnitude as in the earth's magnetic field or in nanoTesla spectroscopy, comprising a polarizing magnetic field for pre-polarisation, B0 with a temporal variation of its magnitude or direction such as field cycling of B0 or rotation of the direction of B0, or spatially inhomogeneous B0 like in fringe-field MR or in stray-field imaging · CPC title

• A61B5/0042

  for the brain · CPC title

• G01R33/4806

  Functional imaging of brain activation · CPC title

• G01R33/5601

  involving use of a contrast agent for contrast manipulation, e.g. a paramagnetic, super-paramagnetic, ferromagnetic or hyperpolarised contrast agent · CPC title

• G01R33/5614

  using a fully balanced steady-state free precession [bSSFP] pulse sequence, e.g. trueFISP · CPC title