Methods for assessing health conditions using single coil magnetic induction tomography imaging

• US 10,278,609 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2016
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Feldkamp, Joseph R., Sullivan, Shawn Jeffery
• Primary Examiner(s): Vargas, Dixomara
• Application Number:
  US15/137,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20160235332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0042 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0522 Magnetic induction tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0536 Impedance imaging, e.g. by tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/425 pancreas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 Intestines, colon or appendix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4566 Evaluating the spine A61B5/4561 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/702 Posture restraints
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/708 Breast positioning means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34 Constructional details, e.g. resonators , specially adapted to MR

Abstract

Methods for assessing a health condition of an individual using single coil magnetic induction tomography imaging are provided. A target area for medical imaging on a patient can be identified. A plurality of coil property measurements can be obtained using a single coil. The plurality of coil property measurements can be performed with the single coil at a plurality of discrete locations relative to the target area. The coil property measurements can be processed to generate an image of the conductivity distribution of the target area. The image can be analyzed to assess a health condition of the patient.

Claims

1. A method for generating an electrical property distribution map for a specimen, the method comprising:

accessing, by one or more processors, a plurality of coil property measurements of a target area using a magnetic induction tomography device, the magnetic induction tomography device comprising single coil, the plurality of coil property measurements being performed with the single coil at a plurality of discrete locations relative to the target area;

generating, by the one or more processors, an image of an electrical property distribution of the target area using a model defining a relationship between coil property measurements obtained by the single coil at a plurality of different positions relative to the target area and a conductivity of the target area; and

outputting, by the one or more processors, the image for display on a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical property distribution comprises a conductivity distribution.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical property distribution comprises a permittivity distribution.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the target area comprises tissue.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the target area comprises human tissue.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the coil property measurement comprises a coil loss measurement indicative of a change in impedance of the single coil resulting from eddy currents induced in the target area when the single coil is placed adjacent to the target area and energized with radio frequency energy.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of coil property measurements are obtained using a hand held magnetic induction tomography device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of coil property measurements are obtained while the single coil is placed on one or more non-conductive sheets overlaying the specimen, the non-conductive sheets having indicia indicative of one or more of the discrete locations.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of coil property measurements are obtained while the target area is pressed against an insulative plate, the single coil being positioned at the plurality of discrete locations on the other side of the insulative plate.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of coil property measurements are obtained while the patient is located on a table having a non-conductive surface, the single coil being disposed within a cavity located in the table.