AFM-coupled microscale radiofrequency probe for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9500671-B2
Application number	US-201414538328-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2014
Priority date	Oct 10, 2011
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

A method of using a AFM/NMR probe, the method comprising the steps of injecting a sample to be analyzed with magnetic particles, introducing a probe into proximity with the sample, the probe capable of both transmitting and sensing electromagnetic radiation; generating a magnetic field via the probe, and adjusting the magnitude of the magnetic field to manipulate the magnetic particles within the sample.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of using a AFM/NMR probe, the method comprising the steps of:
injecting a sample to be analyzed with magnetic particles;
introducing a probe into proximity with the sample, the probe capable of both transmitting and sensing electromagnetic radiation;
generating a magnetic field via the probe; and
adjusting the magnitude of the magnetic field to manipulate the magnetic particles within the sample.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probe further comprises:
a beam including a distal end, a proximal end, a top surface, and a bottom surface, the beam being attached to an anchor at the proximal end and further comprising a tip extending substantially perpendicular from the bottom surface at or near the distal end;
a coil including at least one turn mounted to the top surface of the beam at or near the distal end opposite the tip; and
and a piezoelectric element attached to the top surface of the beam.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particles are injected inside a nucleus of the sample.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particles are injected outside a nucleus of the sample.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of generating a magnetic field comprises applying an electric current to the coil.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
moving the probe until the tip contacts a surface of the sample;
scanning the surface with the tip by moving the tip across the surface of the sample; and
measuring a deflection of the probe.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of generating the magnetic field occurs in multiple locations across the surface of the sample.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the magnetic field comprises multiple pulses of electromagnetic radiation.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:
determining biophysical, biochemical, and functional property characteristics of the sample contacted by the tip of the probe.

Assignees

• Purdue Research Foundation

Inventors

• Neu Corey P
• Ziaie Babak
• Maleki-Jafarabadi Teimour
• Mousoulis Charilaos
• Xu Xin

Classifications

• G01R33/5601

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

• G01Q30/02

  Non-SPM analysing devices, e.g. SEM [Scanning Electron Microscope], spectrometer or optical microscope · CPC title

• G01R33/34084

  implantable coils or coils being geometrically adaptable to the sample, e.g. flexible coils or coils comprising mutually movable parts · CPC title

• G01R33/4808

  Multimodal MR, e.g. MR combined with positron emission tomography [PET], MR combined with ultrasound or MR combined with computed tomography [CT] · CPC title

• G01R33/465

  applied to biological material, e.g. in vitro testing · CPC title