iMPI – portable human-sized Magnetic Particle Imaging Scanner for real-time endovascular Interventions

Abstract

Minimally invasive endovascular interventions have become an important tool for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as ischemic heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and stroke. X-ray fluoroscopy and digital subtraction angiography are used to precisely guide these procedures, but they are associated with radiation exposure for patients and clinical staff. Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is an emerging imaging technology using time-varying magnetic fields combined with magnetic nanoparticle tracers for fast and highly sensitive imaging. In recent years, basic experiments have shown that MPI has great potential for cardiovascular applications. However, current MPI scanners were too large, slow and expensive, and had a very small field of view (FOV), which limited further translational research. Here, we present a portable interventional MPI (iMPI) scanner dedicated for real-time endovascular interventions free of ionizing radiation. It uses a novel field generator approach with a very large FOV and an application-oriented open design enabling hybrid approaches with conventional X-ray-based angiography. The feasibility of a real-time iMPI-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is shown in a realistic dynamic human-sized leg model.

Magnetic Particle Imaging: From Tracer Design to Biomedical Applications in Vasculature Abnormality

“…[237] Afterward, portable MPI scanners designed for real-time guidance during endovascular interventions, like PTA, were reported in 2023, with the size fitting a human leg modal. [287] With the abovementioned developments and continuous efforts in the area, it is expected that MPI technology will play an increasing important role in in vivo imaging for biomedical research and clinical applications.…”

“…[39] Afterward, MPI scanners, qualified with imaging bore of human-leg size, were reported for visibility during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) intervention in 2023. [287] In addition to the proof-of-concept of brain-scale imagers, researchers are also dedicated to developing larger-scale equipment for whole-body scanning based on the MPI principle. For example, a clinical-scale remote magnetic actuation system was built for distant magnetic control of devices (such as magnet bars) under image guidance.…”

“…[237] An MPI scanner tailored for human-leg size was also reported in 2023 for real-time PTA monitoring. [287] According to ongoing developments and research outcomes, [204,303,304] a full human-sized MPI device is expected to appear in daily medical practice.…”

Labeling Natural Killer cells with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for detection by preclinical and clinical-scale magnetic particle imaging

“…To address these challenges, pre-clinical development of a protocol to label NK cells with iron oxide nanoparticles without affecting cell viability or function is needed. There are several human-scale MPI scanners under development worldwide [39][40][41][42] , including a general-purpose human MPI scanner at Magnetic Insight Inc. 43 In this work we aim to demonstrate a novel magnetic particle technology for the tracking of therapeutic NK cells post administration. We label human-derived NK cells with VivoTrax (Magnetic Insight Inc., Alameda, CA) for detection by preclinical and clinical-scale MPI.…”