Method and apparatus for high resolution physiological imaging of neurons

Abstract

In accordance with disclosed embodiments, very high magnetic gradients and magnetic slew are applied to magnetizable particle imaging in order to realize high spatial resolution.

1 . A method for describing the distribution of neurons in living tissue without causing unpleasant stimulation, the method comprising:
 imposing a magnetic gradient on the tissue within a short transition time, and   assessing the spatial distribution or orientation of previously introduced magnetizable particles with a spatial resolution better than 500 microns.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where the transition time is less than one millisecond. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , where the transition time is less than 250 microseconds. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , where the transition time is less than 100 microseconds. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , where the transition time is less than 50 microseconds. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , where the transition time is less than 10 microseconds. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , where a maximum magnitude of the magnetic gradient is greater than 100 milliTesla. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , where a maximum magnitude of the magnetic gradient is greater than 400 milliTesla. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , where a maximum magnetic gradient slew rate is greater than 1,000 Tesla/meter/second. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , where a maximum magnetic gradient slew rate is greater than 10,000 Tesla/meter/second. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , where physiological status of the neurons is assessed by measuring the electromagnetic properties of at least one particle containing a magnetizable material with a sensor external to the tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , where physiological status of the neurons is assessed by measuring the orientation of at least one particle containing a magnetizable material with a sensor external to the tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , where the spatial resolution is sufficient to distinguish individual neurons. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution of neurons is input into a computational simulation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , where the physiological status and distribution of neurons is input into a computational simulation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , where orientation of at least one particle is influenced by electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of one or more neurons, and where the orientation can be sensed external to the living tissue. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus configured to describe distribution of neurons in living tissue without causing unpleasant stimulation, the apparatus comprising:
 coils and drivers configured to impose a strong magnetic field on the tissue with a short transition time, and   coils and drivers configured to assess the spatial distribution of previously introduced magnetizable particles with a spatial resolution better than 500 microns.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus configured to describe a function of neurons in living tissue without causing unpleasant stimulation, the apparatus comprising:
 coils and drivers configured to impose a strong magnetic gradient on the tissue with a short transition time, and   previously introduced at least one particle containing magnetizable material, and in which the state of the particle depends on the function of nearby neurons, and   coils and drivers configured to detect the state of such particles.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus configured to describe a function of neurons in living tissue without causing unpleasant stimulation, the apparatus comprising:
 coils and drivers capable of imposing a strong magnetic gradient on the tissue with a short transition time, and   previously introduced at least one particle containing magnetizable material, and which particle can emit signals depending on the function of nearby neurons, and coils and drivers for detecting the signals emitted by such particle.