Creatine CEST Imaging for Noninvasive Brain Temperature Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current noninvasive absolute temperature mapping technologies for brain tissue are limited by low imaging resolution, susceptibility to motion and magnetic field drift, and inability to measure temperature in tissues with restricted water molecule diffusion.

Innovation Solution

A temperature-measuring method and device based on creatine chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging, which utilizes the temperature-dependent chemical exchange saturation transfer effect of creatine to achieve noninvasive absolute temperature measurement with high spatial resolution and sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If proton resonance frequency (PRF) based thermometry is used, then noninvasive temperature measurement is achieved, but imaging resolution is relatively low and temperature measurement is susceptible to motion and magnetic field drift

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidimaging resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from proton resonance frequency (PRF) to chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effect. By utilizing the temperature-dependent chemical shift of creatine in the CEST regime, the method achieves both high spatial resolution and accurate temperature measurement, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and imaging resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If paramagnetic chelate complex is injected as exogenous reference substance, then chemical shift based thermometry is achieved, but biological safety concerns arise and repetitive administration is less practical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidbiological safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs creatine, an endogenous substance naturally present in the brain, as the reference agent instead of requiring external injection of paramagnetic chelate complexes. This self-service approach eliminates the biological safety concerns and practical limitations associated with repetitive injections, while maintaining accurate temperature measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If water molecule diffusion based thermometry is used, then absolute temperature measurement is achieved, but the technique is only applicable to pure water tissues and cannot be applied to tissues with restricted water molecule diffusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabsolute temperature measurementVSAvoidapplicability to different tissue types

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the underlying mechanism from water molecule diffusion to creatine chemical exchange saturation transfer effect. This parameter change enables the method to work in tissues with restricted water diffusion (such as brain tissue) while maintaining absolute temperature measurement capability, significantly improving adaptability to different tissue types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method enables accurate and stable noninvasive absolute temperature measurement in the brain, providing high spatial resolution and sensitivity, and is suitable for both diagnostic and research purposes.

Implementation Method 1

the present application provides a temperature-measuring method and a device based on creatine chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST):

Implementation Method 2

in combination with magnetic resonance imaging technology to achieve noninvasive absolute temperature measurement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic resonance imaging:

Implementation Method 3

analyzing the chemical shift of creatine in the creatine phantom relative to water; analyzing the chemical shift of creatine in the sample relative to water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical shift:

Data Source

PatentUS20250031975A1Temperature measuring method and apparatus based on creatine chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 SHENZHEN INST OF ADVANCED TECH

AI summary

A temperature measuring method and apparatus based on creatine chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging. The method comprises the following steps: (1) performing creatine CEST imaging on a creatine phantom, and analyzing a chemical shift of creatine relative to water in the creatine phantom; (2) fitting a mathematical relation between the chemical shift of the creatine relative to water and the temperature; and (3) performing CEST imaging on creatine in a sample, and calculating the temperature according to the mathematical relation, fitted in step (2), between the chemical shift of the creatine relative to water and the temperature. In the temperature measuring method, the creatine is taken as an endogenous reference, and highly-spatial-resolution, highly-sensitive, and non-invasive absolute temperature measurement can be implemented by means of temperature dependence of a CEST effect of Cr and water.