Devices and methods for magnetic detection of tissue motion
Inventors
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12326439-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods for localizing magnets are useful for biological tissue analysis and other applications. Tissue analysis systems for use with a tissue analysis device may include a storage medium storing computer readable instructions that cause the execution of magnet localization methods. The system may include the tissue analysis device, which includes a magnet and a magnetometer array disposed adjacent to the magnet. When executed by a processor, the instructions cause operations, including recording a magnetic field of the magnet with the magnetometer array, simulating a simulated magnetic field at each magnetometer of the magnetometer array, and estimating positional information of the magnet based upon iterating simulated positional information of the simulated magnet.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a magnet localization method and a tissue analysis system for detecting tissue motion by localizing magnets embedded in engineered tissue. A plurality of magnets are disposed within wells of a multi-well cartridge or multi-well plate, and each magnet is attached to a post of a plurality of posts, where each post has a tissue attached thereto. Movement of each tissue is tracked based upon estimated positional information for the magnet attached to the corresponding post.
Magnetic sensing is performed using a nearest magnetometer array among a plurality of magnetometer arrays. For each magnet, the nearest magnetometer array is positioned adjacent to the well in which the magnet is disposed, and a magnetic field of each magnet is recorded with that nearest magnetometer array. Directional components of a simulated magnet are used by simulating a simulated magnetic field including directional components at one or more locations of each magnetometer array, or by simulating positional information in theoretical space.
For each magnet, positional information is estimated by iterating the simulated positional information of the simulated magnet in the well in which the magnet is disposed. The estimation is based upon at least the recorded magnetic field of the magnet and at least one of the simulated magnetic field or the simulated positional information of the simulated magnet in the well. The estimated positional information is then used to track movement of the tissue attached to the post coupled to the magnet.
Claims Coverage
The patent provides three independent claims. Across these, the inventive features focus on nearest magnetometer array recording in multi-well cartridges/plates, in-well simulation in theoretical space or directional simulated magnetic fields, iterative estimation of magnet positional information, and tissue movement tracking via estimated magnet position/orientation information.
Nearest magnetometer array recording in multi-well cartridges/plates
Recording a magnetic field of each magnet of a plurality of magnets with a nearest magnetometer array of a plurality of magnetometer arrays, wherein the plurality of magnets are disposed within wells of a multi-well cartridge or multi-well plate and each magnet is attached to a post of a plurality of posts, each post having a tissue attached thereto.
Simulating directional components or theoretical positional information
Simulating, at one or more locations of each magnetometer array, a simulated magnetic field including directional components of a simulated magnet, or simulating positional information in theoretical space of the simulated magnet.
Iterative estimation of positional information from recorded field and simulation
Estimating positional information for each magnet based upon at least the recorded magnetic field of the magnet and iterating the simulated positional information of the simulated magnet, or based upon the recorded magnetic field and at least one of the simulated magnetic field or the simulated positional information.
Tracking tissue movement based on estimated magnet positional information
Tracking movement of each tissue based upon the estimated positional information of the magnet attached to the post to which the tissue is attached.
Across the claims, the focus is on locating each magnet in a multi-well cartridge or plate using a nearest magnetometer array positioned adjacent to the magnet’s well, using in-well simulation and iterative estimation to obtain positional information for each magnet, and using the estimated magnet positional information to track movement of the tissue attached to the magnet-coupled post.
Stated Advantages
Reduced error compared to single-axis or polynomial/empirical regression approaches, as indicated by comparison plots and validation results.
Improved accuracy for magnet localization and tissue motion tracking in multi-well validation, including a 24-well validation map.
Better handling of crosstalk in multi-magnet systems, using modeling approaches as indicated by described validation/crosstalk modeling equations.
Documented Applications
Analyzing tissue motion by localizing magnets embedded in engineered tissue constructs and tracking movement of tissues attached to magnet-coupled posts.
Using multi-well cartridges or plates, including 24-well validation, to perform magnet localization and tissue tracking across multiple wells.
Interested in licensing this patent?