Novel needle driver for magnetic resonance elastography

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward an acoustic, piezoelectric, electric, electro-mechanical or pneumatically driven surface drum driver, in mechanical engagement with a biopsy or acupuncture needle device and a method for its use for diagnosis of small e.g. 100 microns, tumors via the production of magnetic resonance elastographic images (MRE), without artifact production, in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. In a second embodiment, the invention is directed toward an acoustically, pneumatically, piezoelectrically, electrically and/or electro-mechanically driven acupuncture needle, useful for simulating manual single-needle acupuncture treatments via a non-manually manipulated acupuncture needle; and further to a device and process for determination, using twin pneumatically driven surface drivers, of organ stiffness, e.g. brain stiffness, which can be quantified so as to be useful in elucidating and quantifying brain cognitive state, e.g. normal, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's dementia (AD).

1 . A process for early detection and diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and to establish a standard range of brain viscosity and elasticity in normal subjects, MCI patients and AD patients comprising:
 positioning a patient within a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device;   providing a pair of pneumatic drum drivers useful within said MRI device, each driven synchronously by a single wave generator;   positioning said pair of pneumatic drum drivers in contact with the patient's skull, thereby simultaneously generating a shear wave, and a corresponding interference wave effective to neutralize attenuation of said shear wave, each wave propagating in the brain;   elucidating brain stiffness data as a function of shear wavelength; and   establishing a standard range of brain viscosity and elasticity in normal subjects, MCI patients and AD patients;   wherein correlating brain viscosity and elasticity in normal, MCI and AD patients enables early detection and diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD).   
     
     
         2 . A process for early detection and diagnosis of cancerous tumors in a patient in need of such diagnosis comprising:
 positioning a patient within a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device;   providing at least one acoustic, piezoelectric, electric, electro-mechanical or pneumatically driven surface drum driver, useful within said MRI device, in mechanical engagement with a biopsy or acupuncture needle;   inserting said biopsy or acupuncture needle within a tissue suspected of containing a cancerous tumor;   providing wave generating Means for synchronous movement of said biopsy or acupuncture needle within said tissue;   generating a magnetic resonance elastograph; and   elucidating the presence of cancerous tumors in said patient.   
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , further including providing an additional acoustic, piezoelectric, electric, electro-mechanical or pneumatically driven surface drum driver in contact with said patient, in an area adjacent said acupuncture or biopsy needle;
 wherein both spherical and plane waves are generated, thereby enhancing specificity and sensitivity.   
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 2 , further including the act of conducting a biopsy by use of the biopsy needle. 
     
     
         5 . A device for early detection and diagnosis of cancerous tumors in a patient in need of such diagnosis comprising:
 at least one acoustic, piezoelectric, electric, electro-mechanical or pneumatically driven surface drum driver, useful within an MRI device, in mechanical engagement with a biopsy or acupuncture needle; and   a wave generating means for synchronous movement of said biopsy or acupuncture needle;   wherein actuation of said wave generating means causes movement of said acoustic, piezoelectric, electric, electro-mechanical or pneumatically driven surface drum driver, which in turn, causes reciprocal movement of said biopsy or acupuncture needle, thereby generating a shear wave within the tissue'being examined;   whereby relatively small cancerous tumors of approximately 100 microns in size may be visualized by generation of a magnetic resonance elastograph.   
     
     
         6 . A single-needle mechanical acupuncture device comprising:
 an acoustic, piezoelectric, electric, electro-mechanical or pneumatically driven surface drum driver, in mechanical engagement with an acupuncture needle; and   a wave generating means for synchronous movement of said acupuncture needle;   wherein actuation of said wave generating means causes movement of said acoustic, piezoelectric, electric, electro-mechanical or pneumatically driven surface drum driver, which in turn, causes reciprocal movement of said acupuncture needle.