Human-sized magnetic particle imaging for brain applications

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09704-x
• Publication Date: 2019-04-26T10:10:59Z
• Authors: M. Graeser; F. Thieben; P. Szwargulski; F. Werner; N. Gdaniec; M. Boberg; F. Griese; M. Möddel; P. Ludewig; D. van de Ven; O. M. Weber; O. Woywode; B. Gleich; T. Knopp
• Keywords: Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors; Science; Contrast Media; FOS: Physical sciences; Neuroimaging; Article; Magnetics; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Particle Size; Magnetite Nanoparticles; Tomography; Phantoms, Imaging; Q; Brain; Dextrans; Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det); Physics - Medical Physics; Stroke; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Intensive Care Units; Medical Physics (physics.med-ph); Intracranial Hemorrhages

AbstractDetermining the brain perfusion is an important task for diagnosis of vascular diseases such as occlusions and intracerebral haemorrhage. Even after successful diagnosis, there is a high risk of restenosis or rebleeding such that patients need intense attention in the days after treatment. Within this work, we present a diagnostic tomographic imager that allows access to brain perfusion quantitatively in short intervals. The device is based on the magnetic particle imaging technology and is designed for human scale. It is highly sensitive and allows the detection of an iron concentration of 263 pmolFe ml−1, which is one of the lowest iron concentrations imaged by MPI so far. The imager is self-shielded and can be used in unshielded environments such as intensive care units. In combination with the low technical requirements this opens up a variety of medical applications and would allow monitoring of stroke on intensive care units.