Single Coil Magnetic Induction Tomographic Imaging

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for magnetic induction tomography imaging of specimens, such as human tissue specimens, using a single coil are provided. A plurality of coil property measurements can be obtained using the single coil at a plurality of discrete locations relative to the specimen. The single coil can be designed to be relatively easy to be placed in many different positions/orientations relative to the specimen. A three-dimensional electromagnetic property map, such as a three-dimensional conductivity map or a three-dimensional permittivity map, can be generated from the plurality of coil property measurements obtained using the single coil by accessing a model correlating coil property measurements obtained by the single coil with an electromagnetic property distribution of the specimen.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for magnetic induction tomography imaging, the method comprising:
 accessing, by one or more computing devices, a first coil property measurements obtained for a specimen, the first coil property measurement associated with a single coil coupled to and energized with radio frequency energy from an RF energy source, the first coil property measurement obtained with the single coil at a first orientation relative to the specimen;   accessing, by the one or more computing devices, a second coil property measurement obtained for the specimen, the second coil property measurement associated with the single coil coupled to and energized with radio frequency energy from an RF energy source, the second coil property measurement obtained with the single coil at a second orientation relative to the specimen, the second orientation being different from the first orientation;   associating, by the one or more computing devices, coil position data with each of the first and second coil property measurements, the coil position data indicative of at least the orientation of the single coil relative to the specimen for each coil property measurement;   accessing, by the one or more computing devices, a model defining a relationship between coil property measurements obtained by the single coil at a plurality of different positions relative to the specimen and an electromagnetic property of the specimen; and   generating, by the one or more computing devices, a three-dimensional electromagnetic property map of the specimen using the model based at least in part on the first and second coil property measurements and the coil position data associated with each of the first and second property measurements.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first and second coil property measurements each comprise a coil loss measurement indicative of a change in impedance of the single coil resulting from eddy currents induced in the specimen when the single coil is placed adjacent to the specimen and energized with radiofrequency energy. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first coil property measurement is obtained when the single coil is located at a first position relative to the specimen and the second coil property measurement is obtained when the single coil is located at a second position relative to the specimen, the first position being different from the second position. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the coil position data comprises data indicative of the position of the single coil for each of the first coil property measurement and the second coil property measurement. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the coil position data is obtained from a translation device. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the coil position data is determined based at least in part on data generated by one or more sensors. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the coil position data is determined based at least in part on images captured of a graphic located on a surface of a coil device having the single coil. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the model correlates a change in impedance of the single coil with a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters comprising at least a conductivity distribution of the specimen and a position and an orientation of the single coil relative to the specimen. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic property map is a three-dimensional conductivity map of the specimen. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the three-dimensional electromagnetic property map is generated using the model by discretizing the specimen into a finite element mesh or grid. 
     
     
         31 . A system for magnetic induction tomography imaging of a specimen, the system comprising:
 a coil device having a single coil coupled to an RF energy source, the single coil comprising a plurality of concentric conductive loops, each of the plurality of concentric conductive loops having a different radius, the single coil configured to obtain a coil loss measurement;   a computing system comprising one or more processors and one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:   accessing a first coil property measurements obtained for a specimen, the first coil property measurement associated with the single coil coupled to and energized with radio frequency energy from an RF energy source, the first coil property measurement obtained with the single coil at a first orientation relative to the specimen;   accessing a second coil property measurement obtained for the specimen, the second coil property measurement associated with the single coil coupled to and energized with radio frequency energy from an RF energy source, the second coil property measurement obtained with the single coil at a second orientation relative to the specimen, the second orientation being different from the first orientation;   associating coil position data with each of the first and second coil property measurements, the coil position data indicative of at least the orientation of the single coil relative to the specimen for each coil property measurement;   accessing a model defining a relationship between coil property measurements obtained by the single coil at a plurality of different positions relative to the specimen and an electromagnetic property of the specimen; and   generating a three-dimensional electromagnetic property map of the specimen using the model based at least in part on the first and second coil property measurements and the coil position data associated with each of the first and second property measurements.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein each of the first coil property measurement and second coil property measurement is indicative of a change in impedance of the single coil resulting from eddy currents induced in the specimen when the single coil is placed adjacent to the specimen and energized with radiofrequency energy. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the model correlates a change in impedance of the single coil with a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters comprising at least a conductivity distribution of the specimen, a position and an orientation of the single coil relative to the specimen, and a radius of each of the plurality of concentric conductive loops in the single coil. 
     
     
         34 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations for magnetic induction tomography of a tissue specimen, the operations comprising:
 accessing a first coil property measurements obtained for a specimen, the first coil property measurement associated with a single coil coupled to and energized with radio frequency energy from an RF energy source, the first coil property measurement obtained with the single coil at a first orientation relative to the specimen;   accessing a second coil property measurement obtained for the specimen, the second coil property measurement associated with the single coil coupled to and energized with radio frequency energy from an RF energy source, the second coil property measurement obtained with the single coil at a second orientation relative to the specimen, the second orientation being different from the first orientation;   associating coil position data with each of the first and second coil property measurements, the coil position data indicative of at least the orientation of the single coil relative to the specimen for each coil property measurement;   accessing a model defining a relationship between coil property measurements obtained by the single coil at a plurality of different positions relative to the specimen and an electromagnetic property of the specimen; and   generating a three-dimensional electromagnetic property map of the specimen using the model based at least in part on the first and second coil property measurements and the coil position data associated with each of the first and second property measurements.