Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a corresponding method for non-invasive intracardiac electrocardiography (ECG) by use of a magnetic and electrically conducting interference device (210). An MPI-based ECG mapping technique is proposed, wherein an interference device (210), e.g. an electrically conducting rod containing soft magnetic material, is steered through the vessel system and the heart using magnetic fields generated by a magnetic particle imaging (MPI) system so that the ECG signals measured in parallel are influenced. Using appropriately adapted evaluation means (153) this influence of the interference device (210) on the ECG signals can be evaluated to gain spatially resolved information about the electrical heart activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for measuring the internal pressure of an examination object, in particular the internal pressure of a blood vessel, by use of a magnetic pressure measurement device (60, 70) introduced into the examination object, which apparatus comprises:—magnetic field generating means comprising magnetic field signal generator units (130) and magnetic field coils (136a, 136b, 136c) for generating a magnetic field for influencing the magnetization of the magnetic pressure measurement device (60, 70), receiving means comprising at least one signal receiving unit (140) and at least one receiving coil (148) for acquiring detection signals, which detection signals depend on the changes in magnetization of the magnetic pressure measurement device (60, 70) caused by the magnetic field and on the changes of the physical properties of the magnetic pressure measurement device caused by the internal pressure of the examination object, and evaluation means (153) for evaluating the

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus (100) for controlling the movement of a catheter (190) through an object (180) and for localizing the catheter (190) within the object (180), said catheter (190) comprising a magnetic element (194) at or near its tip (192). The invention applies the principles and hardware of magnetic particle imaging (MPI) both for catheter localization and catheter movement and provides appropriate control means (150) for controlling the signal generator units to generate and provide control currents to the respective field coils to generate appropriate magnetic fields for moving the catheter through the object in a direction instructed by movement commands and for localizing the catheter within the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for moving a target element (60, 70), which comprises a magnetic material (62, 72) and an active agent (61, 71), through an object, placing said target element (60, 70) at a predetermined position within the object and activating the active agent (61, 71), which apparatus (100) comprises:—selection means comprising a selection field signal generator unit (110) and selection field elements (116), in particular selection field magnets or coils, for generating a magnetic selection field (50) having a pattern in space of its magnetic field strength such that a first sub-zone (52) having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone (54) having a higher magnetic field strength are formed in a field of view (28),—drive means comprising a drive field signal generator unit (130) and drive field coils (136a, 136b, 136c) for changing the position in space of the two sub-zones (52, 54) in the field of view (28) by means of a magnetic drive field so that the magne

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a field of view (28), wherein the field of view (28) comprises at least one sub field of interest covering at least a portion of an object of interest containing magnetic particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for void size determination of voids within an object into which an aerosol containing magnetic particles has been introduced, in particular for determining the size of a patient's pulmonary alveoli, said patient having inhaled an aerosol containing magnetic particles To review information concerning the lung structure, it is proposed to use magnetic particle imaging. First and second detection signals are acquired subsequently at different moments in time after introduction of the aerosol containing the magnetic particles into the object, in particular after inhalation of the aerosol by the patient. These detection signals are exploited, in particular the drop in intensity and/or the signal decay time, to get information about the diffusion of the magnetic particles within the voids, in particular alveoli, and to retrieve information therefrom about the size of the voids, in particular alveoli.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for influencing and/or detecting and/or locating magnetic particles in a region of action include a driver generating a magnetic drive field so that magnetization of the magnetic particles changes. The magnetic particles include first and second magnetic particles. The arrangement further include a receiver having a first receiving probe providing a first signal and a second receiving probe providing a second signal. A detector determines signal features arising from the first particle in the first signal and in the second signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for determining at least one electromagnetic quantity characterizing an electromagnetic property of an object, in particular a human body, wherein said object contains magnetic particles. The apparatus (100) applying the known principle of Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) comprises selection means for generating a magnetic selection field (50) having the known field pattern showing a field free point (FFP), drive means for changing the position in space of the FFP by means of a magnetic drive field, receiving means for acquiring detection signals depending on the magnetization of the magnetic particles within a field of view (28) and a reconstruction unit (152) for reconstructing a particle distribution quantity depending on the detection signals.

Abstract: An arrangement for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles includes a selector for generating a magnetic selection field having a pattern in space of its magnetic field strength such that a first sub-zone having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone having a higher magnetic field strength are formed in the region of action. A driver changes the position in space of the two sub-zones in the region of action by a magnetic drive field so that the magnetization of the magnetic particles changes locally, and a receiver acquires signals. The signals depend on the magnetization in the region of action, and the magnetization is influenced by the change in the position in space of the first and second sub-zone. The receiver has first and second compensators, each including a compensation coil.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a region of action includes a generator for generating a magnetic selection field having a pattern in space of its magnetic field strength such that a first sub-zone having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone having a higher magnetic field strength are formed in the region of action. A driver is configured to change the position in space of the two sub-zones in the region of action by means of a magnetic drive field so that the magnetization of the magnetic particles changes locally. The generator includes at least one permanent magnet which is at least partially shielded by an electrically high conductive shielding.

Abstract: Magnetic particle imaging allows the imaging of fast tracer dynamics, but there is no native tissue contrast. A combination with MRI solves this issue. However, coil geometries in MPI and MRI differ significantly, making direct use impractical. According to one aspect of the present invention it is proposed to use pre-polarized MRI to overcome these difficulties. Further, methods and arrangements are proposed to achieve MRI imaging with minimal additional hardware.

Abstract: A method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a region of action includes generating a magnetic selection field having a pattern in space of its magnetic field strength such that a first sub-zone having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone having a higher magnetic field strength are formed in the region of action. The method further includes changing the position in space of the two sub-zones in the region of action by means of a magnetic drive field so that the magnetization of the magnetic particles change locally, and acquiring signals that depend on the magnetization in the region of action. The magnetization is influenced by the change in the position in space of the first and second sub-zone. The magnetic drive vector of the magnetic drive field is rotated in at least one rotation plane.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for influencing and/or detecting and/or locating magnetic markers in a region of action is disclosed, which method comprises the steps of: generating a magnetic drive field so that the magnetization of the magnetic marker changes, generating a magnetic selection field having a pattern in space of its magnetic field strength providing a magnetic field gradient in the region of action, acquiring a first signal by means of a first receiving probe and acquiring a second signal by means of a second receiving probe, the first receiving probe and the second receiving probe being located at different locations relative to the region of action, the first signal and the second signal depending on the magnetization of the magnetic marker in the drive field and in the selection field and further depending on the location of the magnetic marker, the magnetic selection field having a first magnetic field strength configuration, repeating at least once the acquisition of the first signal and of t

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a region of action, in particular for monitoring of intra-cerebral or intra-cranial bleeding using Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI). A common coupling unit per coil of a coil array is provided for coupling all signals for generating the magnetic fields to the set of common coils. Further, the same coils are used for acquiring detection signals. In this way a small scanner can be built that can be left permanently or can be provided periodically to the patient, in particular for bleeding monitoring.

Abstract: An arrangement (10) and a method for imaging an object including a vessel (400), using magnetic particle imaging is provided. An image of the vessel (400) is reconstructed based on a known concentration of the magnetic particles (100) within the vessel (400) and on vessel tree data about the progression of said vessel (400). The reconstruction comprises defining cylinder elements (440) around an approximated image and stepwise and separately adapting the radii of the cylinder elements by integrating over the signal intensity of the cylinder elements, wherein the radii are adapted such that the integrated signal intensity over the cylinder elements equals the intensity expected from the known concentration of the magnetic particles in the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement (10) for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a region of action (300). The arrangement (10) comprises selection means (210) for generating a magnetic selection field (211) having a pattern in space of its magnetic field strength such that a first sub-zone (301) having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub zone (302) having a higher magnetic field strength are formed in the region of action (300), drive means (220) for changing the position in space of the two sub-zones (301, 302) in the region of action (300) by means of a magnetic drive field (221) so that the magnetization of the magnetic material changes locally, and receiving means (230) for acquiring detection signals, which detection signals depend on the magnetization in the region of action (300), which magnetization is influenced by the change in the position in space of the first and second sub-zone (301, 302).

Abstract: An arrangement for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles, and/or calibrating such an arrangement includes generating a magnetic selection field having a magnetic field strength pattern such that a first sub-zone having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone having a higher magnetic field strength are formed in the region of action. A driver changes the position in space of the two sub-zones in the region of action by magnetic drive field so that the magnetization of the magnetic particles changes locally. The arrangement includes a drive signal chain, a detection signal chain, and a receiver for acquiring detection signals that depend on the magnetization in the region of action. The magnetization is influenced by the change in the position in space of the first and second sub-zones. A compensation controller provides a compensation signal to the drive signal chain and/or to the detection signal chain by a coupler.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement (10) and a corresponding method for measuring the local velocity of a liquid containing a magnetic material (100) in a vessel within a region of action (300), which are particularly suitable to measure the local velocity of the blood in the coronary arteries. This is achieved by following fluctuations of the liquid (containing magnetic particles) in a bolus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement (10) and a corresponding method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a region of action (300). To store the required reactive energy a tank circuit (453) is provided, which is preferably operating at the centre frequency of the MPI drive field. Reactive elements (C4, L2), in particular capacitors and/or inductors, couple one or more tank circuit (453) to the drive field resonator (454, 220). The coupling strength is preferably varied by switching additional reactive elements (C5) into and out of the coupling unit (452) to vary the strength of coupling.

Abstract: In Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) the reconstruction requires the knowledge of a so called system function. This function describes the relation between spatial position and frequency response and is currently measured once for a scanner set-up and a tracer material. For reasonable resolutions and fields of view the system function becomes quite large, resulting in large acquisition times to obtain reasonable signal-to-noise. However, the system function has a number of properties which can be used to improve signal-to-noise. According to the present invention use is made of the spatial symmetry and/or identical responses at different frequencies for this purpose.