Claims
- 1. A magnetic resonance imaging probe, comprising:
a probe shaft having a magnetic resonance antenna; and a spring tip attached to a distal end of the antenna.
- 2. The probe of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises:
a core of non-magnetic material; a first insulator/dielectric covering the core; and a shield layer covering the first insulator/dielectric.
- 3. The probe of claim 2, wherein the core comprises a Nitinol wire and alternating layers of gold, silver, and gold, surrounding at least a portion of the Nitinol wire.
- 4. The probe of claim 2, wherein the first insulator/dielectric comprises at least one of a plastic, fluoroethylene polymer, polyethylene terephthalate, or silicone.
- 5. The probe of claim 2, wherein the probe shaft is covered by alternating layers of insulator/dielectric and shielding.
- 6. The probe of claim 2, wherein the core of non-magnetic material is plated with alternating layers of gold and silver.
- 7. The probe of claim 2, wherein the core has a diameter in the range of about 0.004 inches to about 0.014 inches.
- 8. The probe of claim 2, wherein the shield layer comprises at least one of a magnetic resonance compatible material, a superelastic material, copper, gold, silver, platinum, iridium, MP35N, tantalum, Nitinol, L605, gold-platinum-iridium, gold-copper-iridium, and gold-platinum..
- 9. The probe of claim 2, wherein the core of non-magnetic material comprises at least one of a magnetic resonance compatible material, a superelastic material, copper, gold, silver, platinum, iridium, MP35N, tantalum, Nitinol, L605, gold-platinum-iridium, gold-copper-iridium, and gold-platinum.
- 10. The probe of claim 2, wherein the core comprises a central core having at least one of carbon, glass fiber, and a polymer, and the core further comprises a radio frequency conductive covering surrounding the central core.
- 11. The probe of claim 10, wherein the covering comprises alternating layers of gold, silver, and gold, surrounding the central core.
- 12. The probe of claim 2, further comprising a proximal spring assembly coupled to a distal end of the shield layer.
- 13. The probe of claim 2, wherein the shield layer comprises at least one of a braid, a paint, a deposit, a plating, a hypotube, and a sputtering.
- 14. The probe of claim 1, wherein the spring tip comprises at least one of a magnetic resonance compatible material, a superelastic material, copper, gold, silver, platinum, iridium, MP35N, tantalum, Nitinol, L605, gold-platinum-iridium, gold-copper-iridium, and gold-platinum.
- 15. The probe of claim 14, wherein the spring tip is attached to the probe shaft by an adhesive joint.
- 16. The probe of claim 15, wherein the adhesive joint electrically insulates the spring tip from the antenna.
- 17. The probe of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a magnetic resonance imaging coil.
- 18. The probe of claim 17, wherein the imaging coil comprises a helical whip with a proximate end and a distal end, the helical whip having coils with a diameter and a spacing.
- 19. The probe of claim 18, wherein the helical whip comprises at least one of a magnetic resonance compatible material, a superelastic material, copper, gold, silver, platinum, iridium, MP35N, tantalum, Nitinol, L605, gold-platinum-iridium, gold-copper-iridium, and gold-platinum.
- 20. The probe of claim 18, wherein the helical whip is covered by a biocompatible material or covering.
- 21. The probe of claim 17, wherein an electrical length of the imaging coil is chosen so as to compensate for the biocompatible material or covering.
- 22. The probe of claim 17, wherein the imaging coil has a length of up to about 12 centimeters.
- 23. The probe of claim 17, wherein the antenna further comprises a core, and at least a part of the imaging coil surrounds at least a part of the core.
- 24. The probe of claim 23, wherein the core is electrically connected to the imaging coil at least at one point.
- 25. The probe of claim 1, wherein at least one of the antenna and the spring tip is visible on a magnetic resonance image.
- 26. The probe of claim 1, wherein the probe shaft has an outer diameter of about 0.032 inches.
- 27. The probe of claim 1, wherein the probe shaft has an outer diameter of about 0.014 inches.
- 28. The probe of claim 1, wherein the probe is sized and shaped to be a guidewire.
- 29. The probe of claim 1, further comprising a connector coupled to a proximal end of the probe shaft.
- 30. The probe of claim 29, wherein the connector is removably coupled to the proximal end of the probe shaft.
- 31. The probe of claim 29, wherein the connector couples to an interface.
- 32. The probe of claim 31, wherein the interface comprises at least one of a tuning-matching circuit, a balun circuit, a decoupling circuit, and a variable capacitor.
- 33. The probe of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a loopless antenna.
- 34. The probe of claim 1, wherein the probe receives a magnetic resonance signal from a sample, and the composite wire has a length substantially equal to 0.25 times the wavelength of the magnetic resonance signal when the probe is in the sample.
- 35. The probe of claim 1, wherein the spring tip comprises a ribbon.
- 36. The probe of claim 35, wherein the ribbon comprises at least one of a magnetic resonance compatible material, a superelastic material, copper, gold, silver, platinum, iridium, MP35N, tantalum, Nitinol, L605, gold-platinum-iridium, gold-copper-iridium, and gold-platinum.
- 37. The probe of claim 35, wherein the ribbon is flat.
- 38. The probe of claim 35, wherein a proximal portion of the ribbon is round, and a distal portion of the ribbon is flat.
- 39. The probe of claim 35, wherein a distal end of the ribbon is flat-dropped.
- 40. The probe of claim 35, further comprising a distal joint attaching the ribbon and the spring tip.
- 41. The probe of claim 1, wherein the spring tip comprises at last one of round winding wire and flat winding wire.
- 42. The probe of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the probe shaft is insulated with a biocompatible material or coating.
- 43. The probe of claim 1, further comprising a cover layer covering at least a portion of the probe shaft.
- 44. The probe of claim 43, wherein the cover layer comprises at least one of a plastic, fluoroethylene polymer, polyethylene terephthalate, or silicone.
- 45. The probe of claim 43, further comprising a lubricious coating covering at least a portion of the cover layer.
- 46. The probe of claim 1, wherein the probe is sized and shaped for intravascular use.
- 47. A magnetic resonance imaging probe, comprising:
a core of non-magnetic material; a shield layer having a distal end and surrounding at least a part of the core; a proximal spring assembly having a distal end and being coupled to the distal end of the shield layer; a joining segment attached to the distal end of the proximal spring assembly; and a magnetic resonance imaging coil attached to the segment.
- 48. The probe of claim 47, wherein at least one of the core and the imaging coil is visible on a magnetic resonance image.
- 49. The imaging probe of claim 47, wherein the proximal spring assembly is attached to the distal end of the shield layer by at least one of a conductive epoxy, an adhesive seal, a laserweld, an ultrasonic weld, and a solder joint.
- 50. The imaging probe of claim 47, wherein the proximal spring assembly comprises at least one of a magnetic resonance compatible material, a superelastic material, copper, gold, silver, platinum, iridium, MP35N, tantalum, Nitinol, L605, gold-platinum-iridium, gold-copper-iridium, and gold-platinum.
- 51. The imaging probe of claim 47, wherein the proximal spring assembly comprises a round winding wire.
- 52. The imaging probe of claim 51, wherein the round winding wire is stacked.
- 53. The imaging probe of claim 47, further comprising a spring tip attached to a distal end of the imaging coil.
- 54. A magnetic resonance imaging probe, comprising:
a core of non-magnetic material; a first insulator/dielectric surrounding at least a part of the core; a shield layer surrounding at least a part of the first insulator/dielectric and having a distal end; a modified shield layer attached to the distal end of the shield layer and having a distal end; a proximal spring assembly attached to the distal end of the modified shield layer and having a distal end; a joining segment attached to the distal end of the proximal spring assembly; a magnetic resonance imaging coil attached to the joining segment and having a distal end; and a spring tip attached to the distal end of the imaging coil.
- 55. A magnetic resonance imaging probe, comprising:
a core of non-magnetic material; a first insulator/dielectric surrounding at least a part of the core; a shield layer surrounding at least a part of the first insulator/dielectric and having a distal end; a modified shield layer attached to the distal end of the shield layer and having a distal end; a joining segment attached to the distal end of the modified shield layer; a magnetic resonance imaging coil attached to the joining segment and having a distal end; and a spring tip attached to the distal end of the imaging coil.
- 56. A magnetic resonance imaging probe system, comprising:
a magnetic resonance imaging probe, having:
a probe shaft including a distal end and a proximal end, the probe shaft further including:
a core of non-magnetic material; a first insulator/dielectric covering the core; a shield layer covering the first insulator/dielectric and having a distal end; a proximal spring assembly attached to the distal end of the shield layer and having a distal end; and a magnetic resonance imaging coil attached to the distal end of the proximal spring assembly and having a distal end; a spring tip attached to the distal end of the imaging coil; and a connector attached to the proximal end of the probe shaft; and an interface, having:
a balun circuit; a decoupling circuit in electrical communication with at least one of the balun circuit and a tuning/matching circuit; the tuning/matching circuit in electrical communication with at least one of the balun circuit and the decoupling circuit; a proximal connector, in electrical communication with at least one of the balun circuit, the decoupling circuit, and the tuning/matching circuit, the proximal connector being adapted for removable electrical connection to a magnetic resonance scanner; and a distal connector, in electrical communication with at least one of the balun circuit, the decoupling circuit, and the tuning/matching circuit, the connector of the interface being adapted for removable electrical connection to the connector of the imaging probe.
- 57. A device suitable for insertion into a subject, comprising:
a magnetic resonance antenna having a helical coil; and a flexible tip affixed to a distal end of the device.
- 58. A method for guiding a magnetic resonance imaging probe, comprising:
providing the probe, the probe having a magnetic resonance imaging antenna and a flexible tip; inserting the probe into a structure; advancing the probe through the structure until the flexible tip encounters a first obstruction; and manipulating the probe until the flexible tip bypasses the first obstruction.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/536,090, filed Mar. 24, 2000, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/129,364, filed Apr. 15, 1999. This application also claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/282,993, filed Apr. 11, 2001. The aforementioned applications are incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference.
Provisional Applications (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60282993 |
Apr 2001 |
US |
|
60129364 |
Apr 1999 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09536090 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
10123065 |
Apr 2002 |
US |