Patent US7370656B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7370656B2
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US
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Method and arrangement for influencing magnetic particles and detecting interfering material
Assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
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Filing: 2004-04-05
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Granted: 2008-05-13
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Expires: 2024-04-05
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for influencing magnetic particles in a region of action. Methods and arrangements of this kind can be used to determine the spatial distribution of magnetic particles in the region of action or to heat up the magnetic particles locally. If, in addition to the magnetic particles, there is also interfering material in the region of action then this material may heat up in an unwanted way. To avoid unwanted heating-up of this kind, any interfering material that may be present is detected beforehand. If there is interfering material present, then an examination or investigation, or treatment, can be carried out with changed system parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernhard Gleich
- 👤 Jürgen Weizenecker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N2/00; A61N2/02; A61N1/00; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61N1/406; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/0515
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for influencing, in a region of action, magnetic particles that have been introduced into an object, the method comprising: a) detecting an interfering material in or on the object, b) generating a magnetic field having a pattern in space of its magnetic field strength such that a first sub-zone having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone having a higher magnetic field strength are formed in the region of action, c) changing the position in space of the two sub-zones in the region of action so that the magnetization of the particles changes locally, and d) acquiring signals that depend on the magnetization in the region of action, which magnetization is influenced by the above change in position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for influencing, in a region of action, magnetic particles that have been introduced into an object, the method comprising: a) detecting an interfering material in or on the object, b) generating a magnetic field having a pattern in space of its magnetic field strength such that a first sub-zone having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone having a higher magnetic field strength are formed in the region of action, c) changing the position in space of the two sub-zones in the region of action so that the magnetization of the particles changes locally, and d) acquiring signals that depend on the magnetization in the region of action, which magnetization is influenced by the above change in position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein detecting of the interfering material is performed before the magnetic particles are introduced, by measuring the change in the inductance of an inductive means that is the result of a change in the distance between the object and the inductive means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the inductive means comprises a coil used in the generation of the magnetic field, in the change in the position in space of the sub-zones and, where applicable, in the acquisition of the signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for the detecting, steps b) to d) are performed for a first time with a lower spatial resolution, or at a lower speed, or both, and the signals acquired are analyzed to obtain information at least on the presence of interfering material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the magnetic particles are not introduced into the object until after the detection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the magnetic particles are introduced into the object before the detection and wherein, in the analysis, the signals acquired are examined for signal components that derive from interfering material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
a method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein interfering material is detected from the spectral composition of the signals acquired.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, if interfering material is present, magnetic fields having a reduced temporal variation are used during the influencing of the magnetic particles to change the position in space of the two sub-zones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, if interfering material is present, steps b) and c) are performed with a reduced spatial resolution during the influencing of the magnetic particles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
An arrangement for influencing magnetic particles in a region of action, comprising: a) means for detecting interfering material, b) means for generating a magnetic field having a pattern in space of its magnetic field strength such that a first sub-zone having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone having a higher magnetic field strength are formed in the region of action, c) means for changing the position in space of the two sub-zones in the region of action, and d) means for acquiring signals, which signals depend on the magnetization in the region of action that is influenced by the change in the position in space of the sub-zones.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
An arrangement for influencing magnetic particles in a region of action, comprising: a) means for detecting interfering material, b) means for generating a magnetic field having a pattern in space of its magnetic field strength such that a first sub-zone having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone having a higher magnetic field strength are formed in the region of action, c) means for changing the position in space of the two sub-zones in the region of action, and d) means for acquiring signals, which signals depend on the magnetization in the region of action that is influenced by the change in the position in space of the sub-zones.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising means for measuring the inductance of at least one of an inductive means that are used for the generation of the magnetic field, for the change in the position in space of the sub-zones and/or for the acquisition of the signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 10 further comprising an analyzing unit to obtain information on at least the presence of interfering material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the analyzing unit is adapted to examine the signals acquired for signal components deriving from magnetic particles and also from interfering material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2011-05-13 | 2011-11-12 | 2012-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-05-13 | 2015-11-12 | 2016-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-05-13 | 2019-11-12 | 2020-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |