Red blood cells as voltage-sensitive contrast agents
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Publication Number
US-10888225-B2
Publication Date
2021-01-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
An imaging apparatus and methodologies image a subject using Magnetic Resonance Imaging, wherein neuronal activity is assessed by measuring displacement of one or more red blood cells resulting from nearby electrical fields produced by the neuronal activity in the at least part of the subject's brain.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a magnetic resonance imaging system and corresponding process for performing imaging to image at least a part of a subject’s brain in order to assess neuronal activity. The magnetic resonance imaging system generates at least one magnetic field gradient to elicit an electromagnetic response from atoms and molecules included in the at least part of the subject’s brain, and at least one detector detects the electromagnetic response so that the processor generates an image based on the detected electromagnetic response.
The neuronal activity is assessed by measuring displacement of one or more red blood cells resulting from nearby electrical fields produced by the neuronal activity in the at least part of the subject’s brain. The approach is characterized by imaging with spatial resolution more accurate than 30 microns full-width at half-maximum.
The disclosed imaging approach further characterizes MRI performance through additional constraints, including image acquisition time of less than 100 milliseconds and magnetic gradient greater than 500 milliTeslas per meter, and the assessment of neuronal activity can be refined to measure an increase in size of one or more neurons caused by neuronal electrical activity.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims include two main inventive concepts, one apparatus claim and one method claim, both sharing the core inventive feature of assessing neuronal activity by measuring red blood cell displacement caused by nearby electrical fields produced by neuronal activity, together with brain imaging spatial resolution more accurate than 30 microns FWHM. The claim set further adds quantitative imaging-performance features such as image acquisition time and magnetic gradient magnitude, and optionally refines the neuronal-readout to an increase in size of neurons caused by neuronal electrical activity.
Neuronal activity assessment via red blood cell displacement from nearby electrical fields
Assessing neuronal activity by measuring displacement of one or more red blood cells resulting from nearby electrical fields produced by the neuronal activity in at least a part of the subject’s brain.
MRI brain imaging with spatial resolution more accurate than 30 microns FWHM
Imaging the at least a part of the subject’s brain with spatial resolution more accurate than 30 microns full-width at half-maximum.
Rapid MRI acquisition time constraint
Generating images of the at least a part of the subject’s brain with an image acquisition time of less than 100 milliseconds.
High magnetic gradient magnitude constraint
Generating images by applying a magnetic gradient greater than 500 milliTeslas per meter.
Neuronal activity readout as increase in size of neurons
Assessing neuronal activity measures an increase in size of one or more neurons caused by neuronal electrical activity.
Across the independent claims, neuronal activity is assessed from an MRI of a subject’s brain by measuring red blood cell displacement caused by nearby electrical fields produced by neuronal activity, with brain imaging spatial resolution more accurate than 30 microns FWHM. Dependent claim features add constraints on image acquisition time, magnetic gradient magnitude, and optionally specify that neuronal activity is measured as an increase in size of one or more neurons due to neuronal electrical activity.
Stated Advantages
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