Ferrohydrodynamic relaxometry for magnetic particle imaging

The ferrohydrodynamic properties of magnetic nanoparticles govern resolution and signal strength in magnetic particle imaging (MPI), a medical imaging modality with applications in small animals and humans. Here, we discuss the development and key results of a magnetic particle relaxometer that measures the core diameter and relaxation constant of magnetic nanoparticles. This instrument enables us to directly measure the one-dimensional MPI point spread function. To elucidate our results, we develop a simplified ferrohydrodynamic model that assumes nanoparticles respond to time varying magnetic fields according to a Debeye model of Brownian relaxation, which we verify with experimental data. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3604009]