Particle Imaging Apparatus

About

Summary   Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is new imaging modality that relies on different physical principles from X-ray, magnetic resonance, ultrasound, and nuclear methods. This novel, ultra-sensitive and affordable 3D scanner images the distribution of a magnetic contrast agents in vivo. MPI directly detects a nanoparticle?s electronic magnetism which is 1 million times more intense than the nuclear paramagnetism detected in MRI, A mouse MPI scanner suitable for cell tracking in vivo has been developed and demonstrated. The first applications provide improved stem cell tracking, angiography, and inflammation imaging. The MPI method has promise for 200-fold greater sensitivity than MRI for each of these applications. The system has been proven out in mice, with current research to extend MPI to rabbits and rats. Initial research was reported after filing of a patent application. A key advantages of MPI is an improvement of 200X over currently available methods of sensitivity and contrast to noise (CNR). Other advantages are substantial improvements in image resolution, an eight week in vivo observation window, virtually unlimited penetration, few artifact problems, and ease of use. Many limitations of currently available systems can be overcome using MPI. By example, X-ray techniques do not provide adequate contrast sensitivity for cardiovascular stem cell tracking in the clinical setting. Bioluminescence is limited to small animal studies and NIR fluorescence to near-surface and histological applications. Ultrasound/echocardiography has the potential for single cell detection but has limited anatomic accessibility, resolution, and quantification. High-energy photon imaging (SPECT or PET) has high sensitivity, but for long-term tracking it requires genetic manipulation of the stem cell, stable expression of a transgene, and multiple exposures to ionizing radiation. MRI provides 3-dimensional anatomy but some contrast techniques have low sensitivity.