Noninvasive monitoring of blood flow using a single magnetic microsphere

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 5014
• Main Authors: Liebl, Maik, Gleich, Bernhard, Eberbeck, Dietmar, Radon, Patricia, Rahmer, Jürgen, Trahms, Lutz, Wiekhorst, Frank
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 21.03.2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 13/62; 14/10; 631/61/350/59; 639/166/985; 639/925/930/2735; Blood; Blood flow; Blood Flow Velocity; Contrast Media - chemistry; Contrast Media - pharmacology; Coronary Circulation - physiology; Erythrocytes; Hemodynamics; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Magnetic Phenomena; Microspheres; multidisciplinary; Phantoms, Imaging; Regional Blood Flow; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41416-6

Noninvasive medical imaging of blood flow relies on mapping the transit of a contrast medium bolus injected intravenously. This has the draw-back that the front of the bolus widens until the tissue of interest is reached and quantitative flow parameters are not easy to obtain. Here, we introduce high resolution (millimeter/millisecond) 3D magnetic tracking of a single microsphere locally probing the flow while passing through a vessel. With this, we successfully localize and evaluate diameter constrictions in an arteria phantom after a single passage of a microsphere. We further demonstrate the potential for clinical application by tracking a microsphere smaller than a red blood cell.