A semi-analytical solution and AI-based reconstruction algorithms for magnetic particle tracking

PLoS One. 2021 Jul 9;16(7):e0254051. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254051. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Magnetic particle tracking is a recently developed technology that can measure the translation and rotation of a particle in an opaque environment like a turbidity flow and fluidized-bed flow. The trajectory reconstruction usually relies on numerical optimization or filtering, which involve artificial parameters or thresholds. Existing analytical reconstruction algorithms have certain limitations and usually depend on the gradient of the magnetic field, which is not easy to measure accurately in many applications. This paper discusses a new semi-analytical solution and the related reconstruction algorithm. The new method can be used for an arbitrary sensor arrangement. To reduce the measurement uncertainty in practical applications, deep neural network (DNN)-based models are developed to denoise the reconstructed trajectory. Compared to traditional approaches such as wavelet-based filtering, the DNN-based denoisers are more accurate in the position reconstruction. However, they often over-smooth the velocity signal, and a hybrid method that combines the wavelet and DNN model provides a more accurate velocity reconstruction. All the DNN-based and wavelet methods perform well in the orientation reconstruction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Artificial Intelligence*
  • Magnetic Fields*
  • Magnetometry
  • Neural Networks, Computer
  • Uncertainty
  • Wavelet Analysis

Grants and funding

HW, National Science Foundation (Grant No. 1944187), https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1944187&HistoricalAwards=false JW, National Science Foundation (Grant No. 1934300), https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1934300&HistoricalAwards=false The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.