BACKGROUND:  Single cell imaging has been achieved through the use of microcoils in NMR. The NMR microcoils are typically wound around glass capillaries mounted on silicon chips and therefore cannot be implemented directly in patients. Implantable magnetic resonance coils have been patented, however do to the nature and size of existing technologies, the MR signal is not sufficiently concentrated and uniform to allow refined MR spectroscopy. In addition, the current devices typically can only target a large region of interest.

INNOVATION:  Researchers at UCLA have developed a magnetic resonance microcoil with a high signal-to-noise-ratio per-unit-volume that enables microscopic imaging, spectroscopy, and endoscopy. A microcoil is a small solenoid that can be used to target small tissue samples for enhanced magnetic resonance signal reception. The sensitivity of microcoils increases as the solenoid diameter is reduced, thereby making the microcoil especially amenable to small bioimaging probes. The device can be used in research, diagnosis, and treatment planning for diseases such as cancer and epilepsy. In addition, it can be used in the characterization of tissue engineering techniques as well as analysis of bone samples.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS 

• Research, diagnosis, and treatment planning for diseases such as cancer and epilepsy
• Diagnosing cancer at the early stage of disease
• Precise localization of tumor margins for improved treatment
• Characterization of tissue engineering techniques
• Analysis of bone samples
• Bioimaging
• Capable of analyzing nano-liter volume samples for magnetic resonance spectroscopy

ADVANTAGES

• Higher signal-to-noise ratio allows a small region to be targeted
• Ability to implant into patients
• Greatly enhanced signal reception from a small region
• Microscopic MRI in which the plane resolution is less than or equal to 100 microns

DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE:  A first generation magnetic resonance microcoil for integration with a fiber-optic has been tested as a transceiver coil for imaging. The resultant images provided in-plane resolutions on the order of 20 microns with a slice thickness of less than 200 microns.

Reference: UCLA Case No. 2008-244