LAUSR

Interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) using MR-catheters has been explored during the past decade because of its potential impact on the field of minimally invasive medical procedures, especially applied to vascular diseases. Tracking the catheter's tip during an iMRI procedure using active electronic components has major benefits but still faces challenges regarding safety and the quality of visualization, which has prevented its clinical use up to now. Here we propose a novel micro detector with a total length of 8 mm built upon a flexible substrate with a total thickness of less than 60 $\mu \rm m$. The design of the detector is based on two perpendicularly oriented saddle coils that together create a homogeneous magnetic field when wrapped onto the catheter tube, thus maintaining constant visibility of the catheter under rotation, with practically no dead angle. Being self-resonant, the proposed detector allows wireless tracking of the catheter position, whilst preventing any heating hazard due to the absence of radiofrequency cables. The micro-resonator was fabricated using a multilayer flexible electronics fabrication process.