US 12,474,423 B2
Pulsed magnetic particle imaging systems and methods
Steven M. Conolly, Palo Alto, CA (US); Patrick W. Goodwill, San Francisco, CA (US); Daniel Hensley, Berkeley, CA (US); Zhi Wei Tay, Berkeley, CA (US); and Bo Zheng, Berkeley, CA (US)
Assigned to The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US)
Filed by The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/205,937.
Application 18/205,937 is a continuation of application No. 17/581,684, filed on Jan. 21, 2022, granted, now 11,709,212.
Application 17/581,684 is a continuation of application No. 15/998,525, filed on Aug. 16, 2018, granted, now 11,231,469.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/546,395, filed on Aug. 16, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0103103 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01R 33/10 (2006.01); G01R 33/12 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 33/1276 (2013.01) [G01R 33/10 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pulsed magnetic particle imaging system, comprising:
a magnetic field generating system comprising at least one magnet, said magnetic field generating system providing a spatially structured magnetic field within an observation region of said magnetic particle imaging system such that said spatially structured magnetic field will have a field-free region (FFR) for an object under observation having a magnetic nanoparticle tracer distribution and a ligand-containing mixture therein;
a pulsed excitation system arranged proximate said observation region, said pulsed excitation system comprising an electromagnet and a pulse sequence generator electrically connected to said electromagnet to provide an excitation waveform to said electromagnet, wherein said electromagnet when provided with said excitation waveform generates an excitation magnetic field within said observation region to induce an excitation signal therefrom by at least one of shifting a location or condition of said FFR;
a detection system arranged proximate said observation region, said detection system being configured to detect said excitation signal to provide a detection signal; and
a signal processing system configured to be in communication with said detection system to receive said detection signal therefrom,
wherein said excitation waveform comprises a magnetization preparation portion and a readout portion, said magnetization preparation portion comprising a transient portion, and said readout portion comprising a constant portion,
wherein said signal processing system is configured to process said detection signal to detect a binding event of said magnetic nanoparticle tracer.