In this study, we propose an efficient field-free line (FFL) generator for mechanically driven FFL magnetic particle imaging (MPI) applications. The novel FFL generator comprises pairs of Halbach arrays and bar magnets. The proposed design generates high-gradient FFLs with low-mass permanent magnets, realizing fine spatial resolutions in MPI. We investigate the magnetic field generated using simulations and experiments. Our results show that the FFL generator yields a high gradient of 4.76 T/m at a cylindrical field of view of 30 mm diameter and a 70 mm open bore. A spatial resolution of less than 3.5 mm was obtained in the mechanically driven FFL-MPI.

We present two magnetic particle imaging (MPI) systems with bore sizes of 75 mm and 100 mm, respectively, using three-dimensionally arranged permanent magnets for excitation and frequency mixing magnetic detection (FMMD) coils for detection. A rotational and a translational stage were combined to move the field free line (FFL) and acquire the MPI signal, thereby enabling simultaneous overall translation and rotational movement. With this concept, the complex coil system used in many MPI systems, with its high energy consumption to generate the drive field, can be replaced. The characteristic signal of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles was generated via movement of the FFL and acquired using the FMMD coil. The positions of the stages and the occurrence of the f₁ + 2f₂ harmonics were mapped to reconstruct the spatial location of the SPIO. Image reconstruction was performed using Radon and inverse Radon transformations. As a result, the presented method based on mechanical movement of permanent magnets can be used to measure the MPI, even for samples as large as 100 mm. Our research could pave the way for further technological developments to make the equipment human size, which is one of the ultimate goals of MPI.

In this study, we propose an efficient field-free line (FFL) generator for mechanically driven FFL-magnetic particle imaging (MPI) applications. The novel FFL generator comprises pairs of Halbach arrays and bar magnets. The proposed design generates high-gradient FFLs with low-mass permanent magnets, realizing fine spatial resolutions in MPI. We investigate the generated magnetic field using simulations and experiments. Our results show that the FFL generator yields a high gradient of 4.76 T/m at a cylindrical field of view of 30 mm diameter and a 70 mm open bore. A spatial resolution of less than 3.5 mm was obtained in the mechanically driven FFL-MPI.