In vivo detection of applied electric currents by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging is very sensitive to magnetic field variations. This inherent sensitivity can be exploited to measure small electric currents flowing in the human body. This report describes an experiment in which the magnetic fields produced by small currents applied to the forearm of a living subject have been detected in the tissue. It shows how such measurements have been used to measure current density. The suggested technique is used to measure one component of a current density in a saline solution in vitro.