Palm-Sized Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry Device for Malaria Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current malaria diagnosis methods, such as microscopy and PCR, are limited by sensitivity, specificity, and accessibility, especially in resource-poor settings, and magnetic resonance devices are hindered by bulkiness, high cost, and complexity, making them unsuitable for on-site analysis.
Innovation Solution
A compact, portable magnetic resonance relaxometry system using a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based radio-frequency spectrometer, a miniaturized power amplifier, and a permanent magnet, capable of detecting nuclear magnetic resonance signals from a small blood sample in under a minute, without the need for chemical labeling or extensive sample preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If magnetic resonance devices use superconducting magnets and high-field systems, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, maintenance-intensive superconducting magnets with permanent magnets that have sufficient field strength for the application. This substitution dramatically reduces device weight, cost, and maintenance requirements while maintaining adequate detection capability for malaria parasite quantification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent operates at lower magnetic field strengths (using permanent magnets instead of high-field superconducting systems) and adjusts the detection parameters accordingly. This parameter change enables portable operation while maintaining sufficient measurement precision for clinical diagnostics
2Measurement precision
If magnetic resonance systems use high field homogeneity, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex shimming system from the magnetic resonance device. By using permanent magnets with inherently sufficient field homogeneity for the application and accepting relaxed homogeneity requirements, the tedious shimming protocols and associated complexity are removed entirely
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the field homogeneity parameter requirements from the strict levels needed in research-grade NMR to the relaxed levels sufficient for clinical diagnostics. This parameter relaxation eliminates the need for complex shimming procedures
3Measurement precision
If malaria diagnosis uses microscopic examination, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of microscopy with an automated magnetic resonance detection system. The MR system automatically quantifies parasitemia levels without requiring manual slide preparation, staining, or microscopic examination by trained personnel, thereby maintaining accuracy while dramatically reducing time and operational complexity
4Ease of operation
If magnetic resonance devices are made compact, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible printed circuit board (PCB) traces to fabricate the detection coil instead of rigid wire-wound coils. This approach simplifies manufacturing, reduces precision requirements, and enables integration into a compact portable device while maintaining adequate detection performance
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
Enables rapid, sensitive, and quantitative detection of malaria parasites, providing a magnetic susceptibility index for parasitemia level and infection stage, suitable for point-of-care diagnostics in resource-limited settings with low operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one magnet supplying an external magnetic field to a detection region of the radio-frequency detection probe
Implementation Method 2
a radio-frequency detection probe configured to transmit radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation to excite nuclei under resonance
Implementation Method 3
a power amplifier electrically connected with the radio-frequency spectrometer and amplifying an electrical output of the radio-frequency spectrometer, thereby producing an amplified electrical signal comprising between about 0.1 Watts and about 10 Watts power
Implementation Method 4
a duplexer configured to isolate the radio-frequency spectrometer from the amplified electrical signal during a receiving mode of the device
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a device for performing magnetic resonance relaxometry. The device comprises a radio-frequency spectrometer comprising at least one field-programmable gate array chip; a power amplifier electrically connected with the radio-frequency spectrometer and amplifying an electrical output of the radio-frequency spectrometer, thereby producing an amplified electrical signal comprising between about 0.1 Watts and about 10 Watts power; a duplexer configured to isolate the radio-frequency spectrometer from the amplified electrical signal during a receiving mode of the device; a radio-frequency detection probe configured to transmit radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation to excite nuclei under resonance during a transmission mode of the device, the radio-frequency detection probe comprising a detection coil comprising an inner diameter of less than about 1 millimeter; and at least one magnet supplying an external magnetic field to a detection region of the radio-frequency detection probe, the external magnetic field being less than about 3 Tesla.