Dartmouth College

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic

Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital

John B Weaver

Keith Douglas Paulsen

Paul M Meaney

Karl E Griswold

Ian Baker

Eric W Hansen

Barjor Gimi

Jose R Conejo-Garcia

Alexander Hartov

Sohail K Mirza

Steven N Fiering

Adam J Pattison

Matthew D J McGarry

Adam M Rauwerdink

Uciane K Scarlett

This invention provides a system and method for use of MSB with respect to nanoparticles to non-invasively so as to detect certain conditions, such as viral infection and immunological responses thereto. The system and method employs MSB, for example to detect and quantify antibody-specific NP aggregation to measure the concentration of molecular biomarkers in a wide variety of environments. The system and method can effectively differentiate antibody-specific aggregation from viscosity and temperature, which vary naturally in many environments we wish to explore. Advantageously, the system and method can provide a wide range of potential applications including, but not limited to, in vivo monitoring of immunotherapy efficacy, surgical site infection surveillance, chronic surgical pain monitoring and testing for contagions, which can be performed rapidly and at minimal cost in the field using (e.g.) unprocessed body fluid samples (blood, saliva, mucus and/or urine).

System and method for monitoring molecular agents in vivo by estimating magnetic nanoparticle aggregation

This invention provides a non-invasive system for measuring pain level in a body at a site containing a predetermined concentration of magnetic nanoparticles. A drive coil and a pickup coil transmit and measure a field passing through the site based upon response of the magnetic nanoparticles, and a processor computes a pain level based upon variations in the field. The pain level can be indexed to an absolute scale that affords more predictability and objectivity in determining true pain level. Illustratively, the processor derives values for levels of cytokine IL-6, SP and temperature at the site, which are translated into the pain level. In an embodiment, the system and method can be implemented in a handheld device in which the drive coil and pickup coil reside in a housing.

System and method to measure pain levels of patients following surgery

A system for measuring analyte concentrations has porous-walled nanocontainers containing multiple magnetic nanoparticles, the magnetic nanoparticles coated with a selective binder that is analyte-responsive and binds a the analyte, an indicator substance releasable from the selective binder by the analyte, or an indicator substance cleavable by the analyte, apparatus for exposing the nanocontainers to a fluid potentially containing the analyte, and magnetic spectroscopy of Brownian motion sensing apparatus for detecting agglutination of the nanoparticles or binding of analyte to the nanoparticles. The system is used in a method comprising coating magnetic nanoparticles with a selective binder, encapsulating the magnetic nanoparticles in porous nanocontainers, exposing the nanocontainers to a fluid potentially containing analyte, using magnetic spectroscopy of Brownian motion sensing apparatus to detect agglutination or binding of the nanoparticles, and translating Brownian motion spectra to analyte concentrations.

System and apparatus for porously-encapsulated magnetic-nanoparticle biosensors

A system for measuring responses of magnetic nanoparticles has static magnetic bias field along first axis, and AC driving coils providing AC magnetic field along second axis perpendicular to the first axis, both fields passing through an imaging zone. Sensing coils are oriented to sense fields parallel to the first axis, but not parallel to the second axis. A processor determines responses of nanoparticles in the imaging zone to the AC field. Another system has DC bias on first axis and AC driving coils providing an AC magnetic field along a second axes, magnetic gradient oriented along the first and/or second axis, and the second axis is rotated mechanically or electronically. The signal processor provides a voxel-based model of magnetic nanoparticle distribution in imaging zone. In some embodiments, the static magnet is a main magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging system.

System and apparatus for combined magnetic resonance imaging with magnetic spectroscopy of brownian motion and/or magnetic nanoparticle imaging

A system for determining parameters of porous media or material, which in an embodiment is biological tissue, includes an actuator and a displacement monitor. The actuator is adapted to apply a displacement to tissue at a particular frequency selected from a range of frequencies, and the force monitor adapted to monitor a mechanical response of tissue. The system also has a processor coupled to drive the actuator and to read the mechanical response, the processor coupled to execute from memory a poroelastic model of mechanical properties of the material, and a convergence procedure for determining parameters for the poroelastic model such that the model predicts mechanical response of the tissue to within limits.

Poroelastic dynamic mechanical analyzer for determining mechanical properties of biological materials

This invention provides a system and method that improves the sensitivity and localization capabilities of Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) by using combinations of time-varying and static magnetic fields. Combinations of magnetic fields can be used to distribute the signals coming from the magnetic particles among the harmonics and other frequencies in specific ways to improve sensitivity and to provide localization information to speed up or improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of imaging and/or eliminate the need for saturation fields currently used in MPI. In various embodiments, coils can be provided to extend the sub-saturation region in which nanoparticles reside; to provide a static field offset to bring nanoparticles nearer to saturation; to introduce even and odd harmonics that can be observed; and/or to introduce combinations of frequencies for more-defined observation of signals from nanoparticles. Further embodiments provide for reading of the signal produced by cyclically saturated magnetic nanoparticles in a sample so as to provide a measurement of the temperature of those nanoparticles.

System and method for use of nanoparticles in magnetic particle imaging (MPI) and temperature measurement with extended / increased 3D sub-saturation region

The present invention is a targeted drug delivery composition composed of carrier-linked magnetic nanoparticles. Using an alternating magnetic field, nanoparticles bound to a targeted cell are selectively ruptured thereby releasing therapeutic agents at the desired site of action.

Carrier-linked magnetic nanoparticle drug delivery composition and method of use

A method for diagnosing certain types of cancers provides a nanoparticle agent to be uptaken by cancer cells for diagnosis and treatment of certain cancers. A compound containing nanoparticles is directed toward a tumor site, and then a predetermined time period passes to allow the nanoparticles to be uptaken by the cancer cells. Imaging is then performed on the nanoparticles by an appropriate imaging device to determine the concentration of nanoparticles uptaken by the cancer cells. Finally, image data provided by the imaging device is analyzed to determine the concentration of nanoparticles and thereby determine whether a tumor is present. The nanoparticle agent can further be employed as a treatment of certain cancers. After the uptake of nanoparticles into the cells, a predetermined field applied to the nanoparticles for a sufficient period of time activates the magnetic cores of the nanoparticles to include hyperthermia-mediated destruction of the cancer cells.

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) system and method for use of iron-based nanoparticles in imaging and diagnosis

A microwave imaging system provides superior breast imaging resolution by combining MR microwave absorption and MR-compatible microwave tomography calculations. These techniques may also be supplemented with magnetic resonance elastography techniques, for example, to facilitate quick multispectral imaging.

Imaging by magnetic resonance adsorption, elastography and tomography

This invention provides a system and method that improves the sensitivity and localization capabilities of Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) by using combinations of time-varying and static magnetic fields. Combinations of magnetic fields can be used to distribute the signals coming from the magnetic particles among the harmonics and other frequencies in specific ways to improve sensitivity and to provide localization information to speed up or improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of imaging and/or eliminate the need for saturation fields currently used in MPI. In various embodiments, coils can be provided to extend the sub-saturation region in which nanoparticles reside; to provide a static field offset to bring nanoparticles nearer to saturation; to introduce even and odd harmonics that can be observed; and/or to introduce combinations of frequencies for more-defined observation of signals from nanoparticles. Further embodiments provide for reading of the signal produced by cyclically saturated magnetic nanoparticles in a sample so as to provide a measurement of the temperature of those nanoparticles. The spectral distribution of the signal generated provides estimates of the temperature of the nanoparticles. Related factors may also be estimated&#x2014;binding energies of the nanoparticles, phase changes, bound fraction of the particles or stiffness of the materials in which the nanoparticles are imbedded.

System and method for use of nanoparticles in imaging and temperature measurement

Magnetic resonance elastography pulse sequences for encoding position and motion of spins, and methods of using the pulse sequences are disclosed. The pulse sequences utilize imaging gradients, comprising a positive lobe and a negative lobe having non-symmetric amplitudes, to encode harmonic or wave motion within a specimen, such as tissue.

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Hanover, NH, United States of America

John B Weaver