Patents
US 7994786 B2: System and method for use of nanoparticles in imaging and temperature measurement
- Granted
- 2011-08-09
- Filed
- 2008-06-18 application 12141844
- Type
- Utility · 13 claims
- Elsewhere
- Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗
Abstract
This invention provides a system and method that improves the sensitivity and localization capabilities of Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) by using combinations of time-varying and static magnetic fields. Combinations of magnetic fields can be used to distribute the signals coming from the magnetic particles among the harmonics and other frequencies in specific ways to improve sensitivity and to provide localization information to speed up or improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of imaging and/or eliminate the need for saturation fields currently used in MPI. In various embodiments, coils can be provided to extend the sub-saturation region in which nanoparticles reside; to provide a static field offset to bring nanoparticles nearer to saturation; to introduce even and odd harmonics that can be observed; and/or to introduce combinations of frequencies for more-defined observation of signals from nanoparticles. Further embodiments provide for reading of the signal produced by cyclically saturated magnetic nanoparticles in a sample so as to provide a measurement of the temperature of those nanoparticles. The spectral distribution of the signal generated provides estimates of the temperature of the nanoparticles. Related factors may also be estimated—binding energies of the nanoparticles, phase changes, bound fraction of the particles or stiffness of the materials in which the nanoparticles are imbedded.
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg110809.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital 3 patents | US company or organization | Lebanon, NH | MARY HITCHCOCK MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Nonprofit EXACT high confidence: identical full name and state | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Inventors
| Inventor | Place | Patents | Person page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John B. Weaver | Hanover, NH | 12 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Ian Baker | Etna, NH | 9 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Eric W. Hansen | Lebanon, NH | 3 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
CPC categories
| Subclass | Category | First group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| A61B | Diagnosis; surgery; identification | A61B5/05 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| H01F | Magnets; inductances; transformers; selection of materials for their magnetic properties | H01F1/0045 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| B82Y | Specific uses or applications of nanostructures; measurement or analysis of nanostructures; manufacture or treatment of nanostructures | B82Y25/00 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).
Assignments and security interests
| Recorded | What | From | To | Reel/frame | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-12-22 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | WEAVER, JOHN B., MR. signed 2008-11-14 BAKER, IAN, MR. signed 2008-11-18 HANSEN, ERIC W., MR. signed 2008-11-20 | MARY HITCHCOCK MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LEBANON, NH | 22014/401 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.
USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.