Apparatus and method for magnetic resonance measurement and mapping of electrical impedance, complex permittivity and complex conductivity as applied to detection and evaluation of sample pathology
First Claim
1. A method of detecting and evaluating sample spatially ordered pathology, comprising:
- placing a sample to be measured in a Faraday shield device having electrodes;
applying a time varying potential distribution across the electrodes, so as to create a time varying electric field in the sample, so as to create a local time varying current field in the sample, so as to create a periodic aberration in a local magnetic field that periodically varies a phase of spins within the sample; and
measuring at least one of a complex permittivity, a complex conductivity, and an electrical impedance of the sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of measurement of or mapping the distribution of complex permittivity, complex conductivity, complex impedance, or electric loss angle during magnetic resonance imaging or analysis. The method includes applying a time-varying electric field of a Faraday shield to a sample and cross-correlating the line spectrum signal so produced with the voltage applied to the Faraday shield in a detection circuit. The method permits non-contrast magnetic resonance screening for breast cancer in vivo and/or continuous measurement of electrical characteristics of materials at variable frequencies in vitro. A system of detecting and evaluating sample pathology includes a Faraday shield device that includes parallel electrodes oriented orthogonal to the static magnetic field of a MRI device to produce a time varying electric field. A detector is coupled to the MRI device to detect at least one of a complex permittivity, a complex conductivity, and an electrical impedance of the sample.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of detecting and evaluating sample spatially ordered pathology, comprising:
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placing a sample to be measured in a Faraday shield device having electrodes;
applying a time varying potential distribution across the electrodes, so as to create a time varying electric field in the sample, so as to create a local time varying current field in the sample, so as to create a periodic aberration in a local magnetic field that periodically varies a phase of spins within the sample; and
measuring at least one of a complex permittivity, a complex conductivity, and an electrical impedance of the sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of measuring electrical impedance by the application of time-varying electric fields in a sample, comprising:
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placing the sample in a magnetic resonance device;
providing a detector to the magnetic resonance device;
providing an electrode attachment about the sample, wherein the electrode attachment includes a pair of electrode arrays oriented parallel to each other;
applying a periodic potential distribution across the sample so as to create a time varying electric field in the sample, so as to create a local time varying current field in the sample, so as to create a periodic aberration in a local magnetic field that periodically varies a phase of spins within the sample; and
measuring an electrical impedance of the sample with the detector. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A system for detecting and evaluating sample pathology, comprising:
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a magnetic resonance imaging device configured to produce an image of a sample, the magnetic resonance imaging device generating a static magnetic field and including one of receiving coils and transmitter-receiver coils;
a Faraday shield device that includes parallel electrodes oriented orthogonal to the static magnetic field to produce a time varying electric field;
a voltage source configured to generate a periodic voltage at a frequency Ω
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a detector configured to detect one of a complex permittivity, a complex conductivity, and an electrical impedance of the sample. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for measuring the electrical impedance of a sample, comprising:
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a magnetic resonance device;
an electrode attachment disposed about the sample, wherein the electrode attachment includes a pair of electrode arrays oriented substantially parallel to each other and substantially orthogonal to the static magnetic field of the magnetic resonance device;
a voltage source configured to apply a periodic potential distribution across the sample so as to create a time varying electric field in the sample, so as to create a local time varying current field in the sample, so as to create a periodic aberration in a local magnetic field that periodically varies a phase of spins within the sample; and
a detector coupled to the magnetic resonance device to measure a value corresponding to an electrical impedance of the sample. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A method of detecting and evaluating sample spatially ordered pathology, comprising:
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placing a human breast to be measured in a Faraday shield device having electrodes;
applying across the electrodes a time varying potential distribution having a phase modulating frequency, so as to create a time varying electric field in the breast, so as to create a time varying current field in the breast that periodically varies a phase of spins within the breast; and
measuring the distribution of at least one of a complex permittivity and an electrical impedance of the breast at the phase modulating frequency. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for detecting and evaluating sample spatially ordered pathology, comprising:
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means for placing a sample to be measured in a Faraday shield device having electrodes;
means for applying a time varying potential distribution across the electrodes, so as to create a time varying electric field in the sample, so as to create a local time varying current field in the sample, so as to create a periodic aberration in a local magnetic field that periodically varies a phase of spins within the sample; and
means for measuring at least one of a complex permittivity, a complex conductivity, and an electrical impedance of the sample.
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36. A system for measuring electrical impedance by the application of time-varying electric fields in a sample, comprising:
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means for placing the sample in a magnetic resonance device;
means for providing a detector to the magnetic resonance device;
means for providing an electrode attachment about the sample, wherein the electrode attachment includes a pair of electrode arrays oriented parallel to each other;
means for applying a periodic potential distribution across the sample so as to create a time varying electric field in the sample, so as to create a local time varying current field in the sample, so as to create a periodic aberration in a local magnetic field that periodically varies a phase of spins within the sample; and
means for measuring an electrical impedance of the sample with the detector.
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37. A system for detecting and evaluating sample spatially ordered pathology, comprising:
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means for placing a human breast to be measured in a Faraday shield device having electrodes;
means for applying across the electrodes a time varying potential distribution having a phase modulating frequency, so as to create a time varying electric field in the breast, so as to create a time varying current field in the breast that periodically varies a phase of spins within the breast; and
means for measuring the distribution of at least one of a complex permittivity and an electrical impedance of the breast at the phase modulating frequency.
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Specification