Apparatus and method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles

摘要

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.

主权项

1. An apparatus (100) for void size determination of voids within an object into which an aerosol containing magnetic particles has been introduced, which apparatus comprises:
selection means comprising a selection field signal generator unit (110) and selection field coils (116) 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 drive field signal generator units (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 magnetization of the magnetic material changes locally, 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 magnetization in the field of view (28), which magnetization is influenced by the change in the position in space of the first and second sub-zone (52, 54), and processing means (154) for determining the void size of voids within the object from a first one of the detection signals acquired directly after introduction of the aerosol and a second one of the detection signals acquired after a time duration after introduction of the aerosol.