Squid detected NMR and MRI at ultralow fields

Patent 7053610 Issued on May 30, 2006. Estimated Expiration Date:

November 22, 2024. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3439260

Zeugmatography process
Patent #: 4390840
Issued on: 06/28/1983
Inventor: Ganssen , et al.

Method of measuring internal information from a target by using nuclear magnetic resonance
Patent #: 4573015
Issued on: 02/25/1986
Inventor: Abe , et al.

Integrated miniature DC SQUID susceptometer for measuring properties of very small samples
Patent #: 4588947
Issued on: 05/13/1986
Inventor: Ketchen

Reduced noise NMR localization system
Patent #: 4851777
Issued on: 07/25/1989
Inventor: Macovski

Measuring device having a squid magnetometer with a modulator for measuring magnetic fields of extremely low frequency
Patent #: 4864237
Issued on: 09/05/1989
Inventor: Hoenig

Apparatus and method for the examination of properties of an object
Patent #: 4906931
Issued on: 03/06/1990
Inventor: Sepponen

Nuclear magnetism logging tool using high-temperature superconducting squid detectors
Patent #: 4987368
Issued on: 01/22/1991
Inventor: Vinegar

Pulsed field MRI system with non-resonant excitation
Patent #: 5057776
Issued on: 10/15/1991
Inventor: Macovski

NMR machine with low field and dynamic polarization
Patent #: 5208533
Issued on: 05/04/1993
Inventor: Le Roux

More ...

Inventors

Assignee

The Regents of University of California

Application

No. 10995765 filed on 11/22/2004

US Classes:

324/300, PARTICLE PRECESSION RESONANCE324/306, Determine fluid flow rate324/201, Susceptibility324/248, Superconductive magnetometers324/239, Induced voltage-type sensor424/9.3Magnetic imaging agent (e.g., NMR, MRI, MRS, etc.)

Examiners

Primary: Shrivastav, Brij B.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Milner; Joseph R.

Foreign Patent References

WO 96/08234 WO 03/01/1996
WO 00/25828 WO 05/01/2000
WO 97/37239 WO 05/01/2000
WO 03/067267 WO 08/01/2003

International Class

G01V 3/00

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals are detected in microtesla fields. Prepolarization in millitesla fields is followed by detection with an untuned dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Because the sensitivity of the SQUID is frequency independent, both signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spectral resolution are enhanced by detecting the NMR signal in extremely low magnetic fields, where the NMR lines become very narrow even for grossly inhomogeneous measurement fields. MRI in ultralow magnetic field is based on the NMR at ultralow fields. Gradient magnetic fields are applied, and images are constructed from the detected NMR signals.

Other References

de Souza et al: J. Braz. Chem. Soc vol. 10, No. 4, 307-312 (1999).
Greenberg, “Application of Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance,” Review of Modern Physics, vol. 70 (No. 1), p. 175-222, (Jan. 1998).
Schlenga et al., “High-Tc SQUIDs for Low-Field NMR and MRI of Room Temperature Samples,” IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 9 (No. 2), p. 4424-4427, (Jun. 1999).
McDermott et al., “Liquid-State NMR and Scalar Couplings in Microtesla Magnetic Fields,” SCIENCE (www.sciencemag.org), vol. 295, p. 2247-2249, (Mar. 22, 2002).
Goedecke et al., “NMR in the Earth's Field: Development of an Experimental Setup for in vivo Analysis of Body Fluids and Soft Tissue,,” Z. Med. Phys., vol. 9 (No. 2), p. 130-138, (1999).
Trabesinger et al., “Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Microtesla Fields,,” Proc. Intl. Soc. Mag. Reson. Med., No. 11, p. 752, (Jul. 10, 2003).
Seton et al., “A 4.2 K Receiver Coil and SQUID Amplifier Used to Improve the SNR of Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Images of the Human Arm,” Measurement Science and Technology, IOP Publishing, vol. 8 (No. 2), p. 198-207, (Feb. 1997).
2G Enterprises Online Product Brochure (http://www.2genterprises.com/srm_—760.html), “Model 2G760 Superconducting Rock Magnetometer,” p. 1.
2G Enterprises Data Sheet (http://www.2genterprises.com/srm_—755.html), “2G Enterprises 755 Superconducting Rock Magnetometer,” p. 1-2.
2G Enterprises Online Product Data Sheet (http://www.2genterprises.com/srm.html), “2G Enterprises DC SQUID magnetic field sensors,” p. 1.
2G Enterprises Online Data Sheet (http://www.2genterprises.com/srm_—581.html), “2G Enterprises Model 581 SQUID System,” p. 1-2.
A. Bloom et al., “Measurement of Nuclear Induction Relaxation Times in Weak Magnetic Fields,” Phys. Rev. vol. 93, p. 941 (1954).
A. Macovski et al., “Novel approaches to low cost MRI,” Magn. Reson. Med., vol. 30 (No. 2), p. 221-230, (1993).
Aviva Goldman, Scientists Edge Closer to Producing Portable Medical Imaging Machine, The Daily Californian, (Apr. 4, 2002).
B.J. Roth, N.G. Sepulveda and J.P. Wikswo Jr., “Using a magnetometer to image a two-dimensional current distribution,” J. Appl. Phys., vol. 65 (No. 1), p. 361-372, (Jan. 1, 1999).
Dinh M. Tonthat and John Clarke, “Direct current superconducting quantum interference device spectrometer for pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance and nuclear quadrupole resonance at frequencies up to 5 MHz,” Rev. Sci. Instrum., vol. 67 (No. 8), p. 2890-2893, (1996).
Dinh M. Tonthat, M. Zeigeweid, Y.Q. Song, E.J. Munson, S. Appelt, A. Pines,, and John Clarke, “SQUID Detected NMR of Laser-Polarized Xenon at 4.2K and at Frequencies Down to 200 Hz,” Chem. Phys. Lett., p. 245-249, (Jun. 27, 1997).
E. Dantsker, S. Tanaka, J. Clarke, “High-Tc SQUIDs with slots or holes: low l/f noise in ambient magnetic fields,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 70 (No. 15), p. 2037-2039, (Apr. 14, 1997).
G. Bene, “In situ identification of human physiological fluids by nuclear magnetism in the Earth's field,” Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., B289, pp. 501-501, 1980.
G. Bene, “Nuclear Magnetism of Liquid Systems in the Earth Field Range,” Physics Reports, vol. 58, No. 4, 1980, pp. 213-267, North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
G. Planinsic, J. Stepisnik, and M. Kos, “Relaxation-Time Measurement and Imaging in the Earth's Magnetic Field,” Journal of Magnetic Resonance, Series A, p. 170-174, (1994).
Goedecke et al., “NMR in the Earth's Field: Development of an Experimental Setup for in vivo Analysis of Body Fluids and Soft Tissue,” Z. Med. Phys., vol. 9 (No. 2), p. 130-138, (1999).
H. Mehier, et al. “Imagierie par Resonance Magnetique Nucleaireen Champ Tres Faible,” J. Biophys. Biomec., p. 198, 1985.
H.C. Seton et al., “A 4.2 K receiver coil and SQUID amplifier used to improve the SNR flow of low-field magnetic resonance images of the human arm,” Meas. Sci. Technol., vol. 8, p. 198-207, (1997).
http://www.gps.caltech.edu/tempfiles/magnetic_—microscopy/,.“Supplementary images for science report: A low temperature transfer of ALH84001 from Mars to Earth,” p. 1-9.
J. Stepisnik, “Feasibility of NMR Imaging in Earth Field Range,” Proceedings of XXII Congress Ampere, p. 528-529, 1984.
J. Stepisnik, “NMR Imaging in the Earth's Magnetic Field,” Magn. Reson. Med., p. 386-391, (1990).
J. Stepisnik, et al. “NMR Imaging by Earth's Magnetic Field,” Abstracts of 7th specialized colloque Ampere, p. 194, 1985.
J. Vrba, et al. “Whole Cortex, 64 Channel SQUID Biomagnetometer System,” IEEE Transactions Applied Superconductivity, 2, vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 1878-1888 Mar. 1993.
J. R. Kirtley et al., “Variable sample temperature scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscope,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 74 (No. 26), p. 4011-4013, (Jun. 28, 1999).
James P. Yesinowski, Michael L. Buess, Allen N. Garroway, Marcia Ziegeweid, and Alexander Pines, “Detection of 14N and 35C1 in Cocaine Base and Hydrochloride Using NQR, NMR, and SQUID Techniques,” Analytical Chemistry, vol. 67 (No. 13), p. 2256-2263, (Jul. 1, 1995).
K.A. Kouznetsov, J. Borgmann, J. Clarke, “High Tc superconducting asymmetric gradiometer for biomagnetic applications,” Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 71 (No. 7), p. 2873-2881, (Jul. 3, 2003).
Klaus Schlenga, Robert F. McDermott, John Clarke, Ricardo E. De Souza, Annjoe Wong-Foy, and Alex Pines, “High Tc SQUIDs for low-field NMR and MRI of Room Temperature Samples,” IEEE Trans. on Appl. Supercond., p. 4424, (Dec. 8, 2003).
L. Friedman, et al. “Direct detection of low-frequency NMR using a de SQUID,” Rev. Sci. Instrum., vol. 57, No. 3, pp. 410-413, Mar. 1986.
K. Schlenga, et al., “Low-field magnetic resonance imaging with a high-Tc dc superconducting quantum interference device,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 75 (No. 23), p. 3695-3697, (Dec. 6, 1990).
K. Schlenga, R. McDermott, John Clarke, R. E. De Souza, A. Wong-Foy, and A. Pines, “Low-field magnetic resonance imaging with a high-Tc de superconducting quantum interference device,” Appl. Phys. Letters, vol. 75 (No. 23), p. 3695-3697, (Dec. 6, 1999).
Living State Physics Home Page, www.vanderbilt.edu/lsp, p. 1-2.
M. Augustine, A. Wong-Foy, D. Tonthat, J.L. Yarger, M. Tomaselli, J. Clarke, A. Pines, “Low Field SQUID Detected MRI of Polarized Noble Gases,” Appl. Phys. Letts., vol. 72 (No. 15), p. 1908-1910, (Apr. 13, 1998).
M. Freeman, et al. “Low-temperature nuclear magnetic resonance with a de SQUID amplifier,” Applied Phys. Letter., vol. 48, No. 4, pp. 300-302, Jan. 1986.
M. Muck and J. Clarke, “Flux-Bias Stabilization Scheme for a Radio-Frequency Amplifier Based on a SQUID,” Rev. Sci. Instrum., vol. 72 (No. 9), p. 3691-3693, (Sep. 3, 2001).
M. Muck and J Clarke, “The superconducting quantum interference device microstrip amplifier: Computer models,” J. Appl. Phys., vol. 88 (No. 11), p. 6910-6918, (Dec. 1, 2000).
M. Muck, J.B. Kycia and J. Clarke, “Superconducting Quantum Interference Device as a Near-Quantum-Limited Amplifier at 0.5 GHz,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 78 (No. 7), p. 967-969, (Feb. 12, 2001).
M. Muck, M.O. Andre, J. Clarke, J. Gail, C. Heiden, Microstrip superconducting quantum interference device radio-frequency amplifier: Tuning and cascading, Applied Physics Letters, vol. 75 (No. 22), p. 3545-3547, (Nov. 29, 1999).
M. Muck, M.O. Andre, J. Clarke, J. Gail, C. Heiden, “Radio-frequency amplifier based on a niobium dc superconducting quantum interference device with microstrip input coupling,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 75 (No. 22), p. 2885-2887, (Jun. 1, 1998).
M. Muck, M.O. Andre, J. Clarke, J. Gail, C. Heiden, “Radio-frequency amplifier with tenth-kelvin noise temperature based on a microstrip direct current superconducting quantum interference device,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 75 (No. 5), p. 698-700, (Aug. 2, 1999).
M. Packard, et al. “Free Nuclear Induction in the Earth's Magnetic Field,” Phys. Rev., vol. 93, p. 941, 1954.
M. Ziegeweid, U. Werner, B. Black, and A. Pines, “Squid-NQR of 14N,” NQI Newsletter, vol. 1 (No. 3), p. 24-25, (Mar. 4, 1994).
M.P. Augustine, A. Wong-Foy, J.L. Yarger, M. Tomaselli, A. Pines, D.M. Tonthat, J. Clarke, “Low field magnetic resonance images of polarized noble gases obtained with a dc superconducting quantum interference device,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 72 (No. 15), p. 1908-1910, (Apr. 14, 1998).
M.P. Augustine, D.M. Tonthat, J. Clarke, “SQUID detected NMR and NQR,” Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, vol. 11 (No. 1-2), p. 139-156, (Dec. 9, 1998).
M.S. Chawla, “In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Vascular Imaging Using Laser-Polarized 3Hc Microbubbles,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, USA (US), p. 10832-35, (Sep. 1, 1998).
Michael Muck and John Clarke. “Harmonic Distortion and Intermodulation Products in the Microstrip Amplifier Based on a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID),” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 78 (No. 23), p. 3666-3668, (Jun. 4, 2001).
Paul Callaghan, “Nuclear Magnetic Resonance delights continue,” Physics World, (Apr. 1, 2002).
R. McDermott, A.H. Trabesinger, M. Mueck, E.L. Hahn, A. Pines, J. Clarke, “Liquid-State NMR and Scalar Couplings in Microtesla Magnetic Fields,” Science, vol. 295, p. 2247-2249, (Mar. 22, 2002).
R.E. De Souza, K. Schlenga, A. Wong-Foy, R. McDermott, A. Pines and John Clarke, “NMR and MRI obtained with high transition temperature DC SQUIDs,” J. Braz. Chem. Soc., vol. 10 (No. 4), p. 307-312, (Jan. 3, 1999).
Robert McDermott, Andreas H. Trabesinger, Michael Mueck, Erwin L. Hahn, Alexander Pines and John Clarke, “Liquid State NMR and Scalar Couplings in Microtesia Magnetic Fields,” Science, p. 2247 (Mar. 22, 2002).
Robert F. Service, “Whisper of Magnetism Tells Molecules Apart,” Science, p. 2195, (Mar. 22, 2002).
Robert Francis McDermott, “SQUID-Detected NMR and MRI in Microtesla Magnetic Fields,” Doctoral Dissertation in Physics, University of California, Berkeley (Berkelay, CA), p. 1-138, (Dec. 1, 2002).
S. Kumar, B.D. Thorson, and W.F. Avrin, “Broadband SQUID NMR with Room-Temperature Samples,” Journal of Magnetic Resonance, Series B, p. 252-259, (1995).
S. Kumar, R. Matthews, S.G. Haupt, and D.K. Lathrop, “Nuclear magnetic resonance using a high temperature superconducting quantum interference device,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 70 (No. 8), p. 1037-1039 (Feb. 24, 1997).
Salisbury, David F., “Analysis of Martian meteorite using unique magnetic microscope supports claim that meteorites could have carried life from Mars to Earth,” Vanderbilt University news release (http://www.vanderbilt.edu/News), p. 1-8, (Oct. 26, 2000).
Salisbury, David F., “Anatomy of Ultrahigh Resolution Scanning SQUID Microscope,” Exploration, Vanderbilt University, online research journal (http://www.vanderbilt.edu/News&Features), p. 1-2, (Oct. 26, 2000).
Schlenga, et al., “High-Tc SQUIDs for Low-Field NMR and MRI of Room Temperature Samples,” IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 9 (No. 2), p. 4424-4427, (Jun. 1999).
Thierry Guiberteau and Daniel Grucker, “Dynamic nuclear polarization at very low magnetic fields,” Phys. Med. Biol., p. 1887-1892, (1998).
Trabesinger et al., “Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Microtesla Fields,” Proc. Intl. Soc. Mag. Reson. Med., No. 11, p. 752, (Jul. 10, 2003).
Ulrike Werner-Zwanziger, Marcia Ziegeweid, Bruce Black, and Alexander Pines, “Nitrogen-14Squid NQR of L-Ala-L-His and of Serine,” Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung, p. 1188-1192, (Aug. 2, 1994).
W. Bergmann, “Proposal for an Improvement of NMR-Imaging by Low-Temperature-SQUID-Detection Towards Molecular Kinetic Measurements Localized to a Small Sub-Region of the Sample,” Proc. 3rd Int Workshop Biomagnetism, Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin-New York, p. 535, 1981.
W.G. Jenks, S.S.H. Sadeghi and J.P. Wikswo Jr., “Review Article: SQUIDS for nondestructive evaluation,” J. Phys. D.: Appl. Phys., vol. 30, p. 293-323, (1997).
Wenjin Shao et al., “Low readout field magnetic resonance imaging of hyperpolarized xenon and water in a single system,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 80 (No. 11), p. 2032-2034, (Mar. 18, 2002).
Y.R. Chemla, H.L. Grossman, Y. Poon, R. McDermott, R. Stevens, M.D. Alper, and J. Clarke, “Ultrasensitive magnetic biosensor for homogeneous immunoassay,” PNAS, vol. 97 (No. 26), p. 14268-72, (Dec. 19, 2000).