Magnetic Susceptibility Tomography for Multimodal Neuroimaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current noninvasive neuroimaging techniques face challenges in simultaneously measuring neural and hemodynamic activities with high temporal and spatial resolution, and existing methods for detecting magnetic nanoparticles lack precision and safety in targeted cancer therapy and diagnostics.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic susceptibility tomographic device with sensitive magnetic sensors and AC bias coils provides high-resolution imaging by determining differences in magnetic field strengths to construct tomographic images, enabling simultaneous measurement of neural activity and hemodynamics, and detecting magnetic nanoparticles for cancer therapy and diagnostics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional neuroimaging modalities (EEG, MEG, fMRI, PET, SPECT) are used to measure neural activity, then noninvasive measurement is achieved, but temporal and spatial resolution are limited and cannot simultaneously capture both neural and hemodynamic activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple neuroimaging modalities into a single integrated system that simultaneously measures neural activity (via MEG), hemodynamic responses (via MST), and metabolic parameters. The system merges SQUID-based MEG sensors with magnetic susceptibility tomography capabilities, allowing concurrent acquisition of multiple physiological signals without requiring separate imaging sessions, thereby achieving both high temporal/spatial resolution and multimodal versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system is designed with universal capability to measure multiple physiological processes simultaneously - neural electrical activity, magnetic susceptibility changes related to hemodynamics, and metabolic parameters. The same hardware platform supports both MEG for neural activity mapping and MST for hemodynamic imaging, making the system adaptable to various neuroscientific questions without requiring modality-specific equipment.
2Measurement precision
If fMRI is used to measure hemodynamic response, then noninvasive imaging is achieved, but intense magnetic fields and massive immobile magnets are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the massive static magnetic field system of fMRI with a dynamic magnetic susceptibility measurement approach. Instead of using intense static magnetic fields to generate contrast, the system uses small, dynamic magnetic fields and measures susceptibility changes through magnetic field distortion. This substitution eliminates the need for massive immobile magnets while achieving noninvasive hemodynamic imaging through magnetic susceptibility tomography.
3Reliability
If magnetic nanoparticles are used for targeted cancer therapy, then treatment specificity is improved, but detection precision and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces magnetic susceptibility as an intermediary measurement parameter that indirectly detects the presence and distribution of magnetic nanoparticles. Instead of directly detecting nanoparticles with limited precision, the system measures the magnetic susceptibility changes in tissue caused by nanoparticle accumulation. This intermediary approach provides precise spatial mapping of nanoparticle distribution, enabling accurate monitoring of targeted therapy delivery and efficacy while ensuring safety through noninvasive measurement.
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 solution enables high-precision, noninvasive, multimodal neuroimaging with high temporal and spatial resolution, improving the accuracy of cancer treatment and diagnostics while minimizing harm to healthy tissues.
Implementation Method 1
determine differences between applied and measured field strengths of magnetic fields at each sensor, to determine a contribution of difference between applied and measured strengths of magnetic fields and a magnetic susceptibility
Implementation Method 2
AC bias coils for providing magnetic fields within the volume
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic susceptibility tomographic device has sensitive magnetic sensors about a measurement volume and AC bias coils for providing magnetic fields within the volume. Sensing circuitry reads the sensors, and a processor executes magnetic susceptibility tomography (MST) routines from memory to divide the measurement volume into voxels, to determine differences between applied and measured field strengths of magnetic fields at each voxel and thereby determines magnetic susceptibility of each voxel, and to construct tomographic images representative of magnetic susceptibility as MST images. Embodiments with SQUID and fluxgate sensors are described. Applications to direct measurement of tissue magnetic susceptibility, and to locating and quantifying tagged magnetic nanoparticles are disclosed, including antibody-tagged nanoparticles for use in cancer diagnosis and treatments, and the retrieval of taggant identification codes from an object.