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: 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: The present invention relates to a multimodal fiducial marker (10) for registration of multimodal data, comprising a first portion (12) comprising magnetic material visible in MPI data obtained by a magnetic particle imaging method and a second portion (14) comprising a second material visible in image data obtained by another imaging method, which image data shall be registered with said MPI data. Further, the present invention relates to a marker arrangement (20).

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: An arrangement and a corresponding method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a region of action include storing required reactive energy in a tank circuit, which is preferably operating at the center frequency of a magnetic particle imaging (MPI) drive field. Reactive elements, such as capacitors and/or inductors, couple one or more tank circuits to the drive field resonator. The coupling strength maybe varied by switching additional reactive elements into and out of the coupling unit to vary the strength of coupling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a field of view (28), in particular for examination of human patients.

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: The present invention relates to a device for generating soft tissue contrast images of an area of interest of an examination object (5) comprising soft tissue. The proposed device comprises: an x-ray source unit (2, 3) for emitting one or more pulsed pencil x-ray beams (4), an actuator (8, 9) for actuating said x-ray source unit (2, 3) along and/or around said area of interest to direct said one or more pencil beams (11) onto said area of interest from various directions, an electromagnetic signal receiver (11) for receiving electromagnetic signals from the area of interest resulting from absorption and scatter of x-ray photons within the area of interest, and a signal processor unit (12) for processing said received electromagnetic signals and reconstructing a soft tissue contrast image of the area of interest.

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: Aspects of the present invention relate to a device and method for examining and using an electrical field in a magnetic gradient field, containing magnetic particles in an examination area of an object under examination, including introducing magnetic particles into at least part of the examination area of the object under examination; generating an electrical field at least in part of the examination area; generating a magnetic field having a spatial magnetic field strength profile with a first sub-zone with a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone with a higher magnetic field strength in the examination area; varying a spatial position of the two sub-zones in the examination area such that a magnetization of the particles changes locally; detecting signals which depend on the magnetization in the examination area influenced by this variation; evaluating the signals to obtain information about the spatial distribution of the magnetic particles in the examination area; and determining a conductivi

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter (6) comprising: a connector (65, 66) at a proximal side of the catheter for connecting the catheter to an external signal transmission/receiving unit (10) for transmitting and/or receiving signals, an electrode (63, 64) at a distal side of the catheter, and an electrical connection including an electrical wire (61, 62) for electrically connecting the electrode and the connector for the transmission of signals between the electrode and the connector, wherein the electrical connection has a high electrical resistance of at least 1 k?, in particular of at least 5 k?. Thus, the present invention provides a solution to prevent excessive heating during EP interventions under MR guidance by using highly resistive wires and or lumped resistors as connections within catheters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a field of view (28), in particular for magnetic particle imaging (MPI). The proposed apparatus comprises selection means for generating a magnetic selection field (50) and drive means for generating a magnetic drive field for moving a field-free point along a predetermined trajectory through the field of view so that the magnetization of the magnetic material changes locally.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for examination and use of an electrical field in a magnetic gradient field, containing magnetic particles in an examination area of an object under examination. The invention also relates to a method of determining the, especially three-dimensional, conductivity distribution in an examination area of an object under examination using a device according to the invention, a method for drug or active ingredient release, especially in locally targeted manner, in an examination area of an object under examination likewise using a device according to the invention, as well as use of a device according to the invention for electro-stimulation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for colon screening by using Magnetic Particle Imaging comprising the steps of: (a) generating an imaging magnetic field with a spatial distribution of the magnetic field strength such that the area of examination in the colon consists of a first sub-area of the colon with lower magnetic field strength, where the magnetization of a magnetic particle which was pre-delivered to the colon is not saturated, and a second sub-area of the colon with a higher magnetic field strength, where the magnetization of said magnetic particle is saturated; (b) changing the spatial location of both sub-areas in the area of examination so that the magnetization of said particles changes locally; (c) acquiring signals that depend on the magnetization in the area of examination influenced by this change; and (d) evaluating said signals to obtain information about the spatial distribution of the signals in the area of examination.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a region of action is disclosed, which arrangement comprises: —selection means 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, —drive means for 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 changes locally, —receiving means for acquiring signals, which signals depend on the magnetization in the region of action, which magnetization is influenced by the change in the position in space of the first and second sub-zone, wherein the selection means and/or the drive means and/or the receiving means comprises at least partially a litz wire/stranded wire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining a spatial distribution of magnetic particles in an examination zone, in which a magnetic field is generated that has a first sub-zone of lower magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone of higher magnetic field strength. The positions of the two sub-zones are changed, as a result of which the magnetization in the examination zone changes. Measured values that depend on the change in magnetization are acquired. A reference response function by means of which measured values can be determined mathematically from a spatial distribution of magnetic particles is then determined by means of at least extensive magnetic specimen distribution. Finally, the spatial distribution of magnetic particles is reconstructed from the measured values by means of the reference response function.

Abstract: A interventional device for RF ablation for use in a RF electrical and/or magnetic field especially of a MR imaging system is disclosed, comprising an ablation catheter which is preferably trackable or can be guided or visualized in the image generated by the MR imaging system by means of a MR micro-coil (102), and which is provided with an ablation electrode (101). The interventional device further comprises a transmission path (103) with line segments (104?, 104?) and transformers (105) therebetween, for connecting the MR micro-coil (102) in a differential mode with a MR receiver (108) and for connecting a RF amplifier (107) in a common mode with the ablation electrode (101) for conveying RF ablation power.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a region of action 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 is provided for changing 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. A receiver is also provided for acquiring signals, which signals depend on the magnetization in the region of action, which magnetization is influenced by the change in the position in space of the first and second sub-zone. Further, a coil arrangement is provided including a surrounding coil and a magnetic field generator such that the surrounding coil almost completely surrounds the magnetic field generator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for generating soft tissue contrast images of an area of interest of an examination object (5) comprising soft tissue. The proposed device comprises: an x-ray source unit (2, 3) for emitting one or more pulsed pencil x-ray beams (4), an actuator (8, 9) for actuating said x-ray source unit (2, 3) along and/or around said area of interest to direct said one or more pencil beams (11) onto said area of interest from various directions, an electromagnetic signal receiver (11) for receiving electromagnetic signals from the area of interest resulting from absorption and scatter of x-ray photons within the area of interest, and a signal processor unit (12) for processing said received electromagnetic signals and reconstructing a soft tissue contrast image of the area of interest.

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.