First in-vivo human magnetic particle imaging

TL;DR

This paper reports the first successful in-vivo human magnetic particle imaging (MPI) for vascular visualization, demonstrating real-time, radiation-free imaging of veins using a human-scale scanner and approved nanoparticles.

Contribution

It presents the first in-vivo human MPI angiography, showing clinical feasibility and potential for non-invasive vascular imaging.

Findings

MPI visualized major veins with real-time imaging

MPI matched X-ray angiography in visualizing venous structures

Demonstrated MPI's clinical translatability for human vascular imaging

Abstract

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a tracer-based technique that directly detects the distribution of magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles with millisecond temporal resolution and no tissue background. Despite extensive preclinical work, in-vivo application of MPI in humans has not previously been reported. Here, we report the first in-vivo human MPI angiography, visualizing venous perfusion of the upper extremity using a human-scale scanner and clinically approved ferucarbotran. Under identical procedural conditions, we performed X-ray digital subtraction angiography as the clinical gold standard. MPI visualized major superficial and deep veins, including inflow, branching, valve filling, and clearance dynamics in real time with 2 frames per second. These results establish magnetic particle imaging as a clinically translatable modality for radiation-free vascular imaging in humans and mark the transition of MPI from preclinical research to first clinical application.