A prototype of injector to control and to detect the release of magnetic beads within the constraints of multibifurcation magnetic resonance navigation procedures

Abstract

Purpose: An injector equipped with a bead capture and a bead detection system is presented. In the context of magnetic resonance navigation (MRN), in which MRI gradients are used to steer intravascular therapeutic carriers, fast and reliable injection is essential. In this paper, we present a prototype of injector to control and to detect the release of magnetic beads. Methods: The injector relies on two distinct subsystems: (1) the capture subsystem, which creates local magnetic force to stop the flow of magnetic beads; and (2) the detection subsystem, which detects flowing beads and generates a trigger signal to start MRI gradient pulses. Both systems rely on small microcoils wound on the tubing. Results: Five-turn microcoils show the best compromise between size and performance. Less than 5 mW of power is required to capture 0.8-mm beads moving in a flow above 5 mL min−1 or when a gradient above 200 mT m−1 is applied. The detection system is not sensitive to noise and detects every 0.8-mm bead in flow rates up to 14 mL m−1. Conclusion: The prototype of injector shows performance above the requirements inherent to magnetic resonance navigation. This system is a step toward in vivo multibifurcation MRN. Magn Reson Med 77:444–452, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.