Devices and related aspects for magnetic resonance imaging-based in-situ tissue characterization

A system, comprising

• at least one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible tissue analysis device, comprising:
• at least one sheath comprising at least one channel disposed at least partially therethrough;
• at least one elongated probe at least partially disposed and selectively movable within the channel of the sheath, which elongated probe is insertable into at least one tissue, wherein the elongated probe comprises an outer diameter of about 2.2, millimeters or less and wherein one or more grooves each having a substantially flat surface are disposed in the elongated probe, which grooves comprise a depth of about 0.25 millimeters or more;
• at least one multilayer radio-frequency (RF) tracking element operably connected to the substantially flat surface of at least one of the grooves of the elongated probe, wherein the RF tracking element comprises a thickness of about 0.25 millimeters or less such that the RF tracking element does not extend beyond an outer surface of the elongated probe;
• at least one multilayer RF imaging element operably connected to the elongated probe or to the sheath, wherein the RF imaging element comprises a thickness of about 0.25 millimeters or less;
• at least one deflection mechanism operably connected at least to the elongated probe, which deflection mechanism is configured to selectively deflect positioning of the elongated probe;
• at least one handle operably connected at least to the elongated probe and/or to the sheath;
• and
• at least one signal amplification mechanism operably connected, or connectable, to the RF tracking element and to the RF imaging element, which signal amplification mechanism is configured to amplify one or more signals received from the RF tracking element and/or from the RF imaging element;
• wherein the sheath is configured to remain substantially statically straight regardless of a dynamic tension applied by the deflection mechanism,
• wherein the elongated probe comprises at least one cavity that is disposed substantially through a length of the elongated probe, wherein at least one co-axial cable is at least partially disposed within the cavity and operably connected to the RF tracking element and/or the RF imaging element and operably connected, or connectable, to the MRI apparatus,
• wherein the deflection mechanism comprises at least one tendon operably connected at least proximal to an end of the elongated probe that is insertable into the tissue and to a tension adjustment element operably connected to the handle, which tendon is at least partially disposed within the cavity and which tension adjustment element is configured to selectively effect deflection of the positioning of the portion of the elongated probe,
• wherein the elongated probe comprises at least one deflectable region that deflects when the deflection mechanism selectively deflects positioning of the portion of the elongated probe,
• wherein the deflectable region comprises multiple orifices disposed at least partially through the elongated probe, which orifices communicate with the cavity,
• wherein at least one of the orifices comprises at least one indentation disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated probe;
• and
• wherein the MRI compatible tissue analysis device produces an effective field of view of at least about 30 mm×14 mm×14 mm when the MRI compatible tissue analysis device is operably connected to an MRI apparatus;
• and,
• at least one MRI apparatus operably connected, or connectable, to the RF tracking element and to the RF imaging element, which MRI apparatus comprises at least one controller that comprises, or is capable of accessing, computer readable media comprising non-transitory computer-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one electronic processor perform at least:
• tracking one or more positions of the elongated probe in substantially real-time at least when the elongated probe is inserted into the tissue, and
• capturing one or more images of the elongated probe and/or the tissue in substantially real-time at least when the elongated probe is inserted into the tissue.

A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising:

• positioning a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible tissue analysis device substantially proximal to at least one tissue, wherein the MRI compatible tissue analysis device produces an effective field of view of at least about 30 mm×14 mm×14 mm when the MRI compatible tissue analysis device is operably connected to at least one MRI apparatus, which tissue analysis device comprises:
• at least one sheath comprising at least one channel disposed at least partially therethrough;
• at least one elongated probe at least partially disposed and selectively movable within the channel of the sheath, wherein the elongated probe comprises an outer diameter of about 2.2, millimeters or less and wherein one or more grooves each having a substantially flat surface are disposed in the elongated probe, which grooves comprise a depth of about 0.25 millimeters or more;
• at least one multilayer RF tracking element operably connected to the substantially flat surface of at least one of the grooves of the elongated probe, wherein the RF tracking element comprises a thickness of about 0.25 millimeters or less such that the RF tracking element does not extend beyond an outer surface of the elongated probe, which RF tracking element is operably connected to the MRI apparatus;
• at least one multilayer RF imaging element operably connected to the elongated probe and/or the sheath, wherein the RF imaging element comprises a thickness of about 0.25 millimeters or less, which RF imaging element is operably connected to the MRI apparatus;
• at least one deflection mechanism operably connected at least to the elongated probe;
• and
• at least one handle operably connected at least to the elongated probe and/or to the sheath;
• inserting at least a portion of the elongated probe into the tissue;
• wherein the sheath is configured to remain substantially statically straight regardless of a dynamic tension applied by the deflection mechanism,
• wherein the elongated probe comprises at least one cavity that is disposed substantially through a length of the elongated probe, wherein at least one co-axial cable is at least partially disposed within the cavity and operably connected to the RF tracking element and/or the RF imaging element and operably connected, or connectable, to the MRI apparatus,
• wherein the deflection mechanism comprises at least one tendon operably connected at least proximal to an end of the elongated probe that is insertable into the tissue and to a tension adjustment element operably connected to the handle, which tendon is at least partially disposed within the cavity and which tension adjustment element is configured to selectively effect deflection of the positioning of the portion of the elongated probe,
• wherein the elongated probe comprises at least one deflectable region that deflects when the deflection mechanism selectively deflects positioning of the portion of the elongated probe,
• wherein the deflectable region comprises multiple orifices disposed at least partially through the elongated probe, which orifices communicate with the cavity, and
• wherein at least one of the orifices comprises at least one indentation disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated probe;
• and,
• tracking one or more positions of the elongated probe in substantially real-time using at least the RF tracking element and the MRI apparatus;
• and,
• capturing one or more images of the elongated probe and/or the tissue in substantially real-time using at least the RF imaging element and the MRI apparatus, thereby analyzing the tissue.