Collaborative Research: IDBR: TYPE A: Unconventional Antenna Probes for Ultra-High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging

合作研究：IDBR：TYPE A：用于超高分辨率磁共振成像的非常规天线探头

• 批准号: 1353664
• 负责人: Elena Semouchkina
• 金额: $ 25.74万
• 依托单位: Michigan Technological University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-08-01 至 2018-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1353664&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; IDBR; TYPE; Unconventional

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facilities with enhanced spatial resolution and reduced scan time are in urgent demand for investigating a comprehensive range of biological systems from single cells to humans. The main advantage of high-field MRI scanners is their potential to provide improved anatomic and temporal resolution. Over the past decade, the magnetic field of clinical scanners has increased from 1.5 Tesla (T) to 3 T, revolutionizing functional MRI to map the brain activity. Higher image resolution may also eliminate the need for chemical contrast agents injected in the body and allow for earlier detection of disease. Recently, 9.4 T MRI scanners have been explored for the human anatomy studies. Additional advancements are anticipated for animal and plant imaging, which will be carried out in 7 T to 20 T MRI scanners. Cell imaging will be possible for the micron scale resolutions that are achieved with 11.7 T and higher field scanners. The performance of conventional coil probes, however, degrades at the higher frequencies required by high-field MRI systems, therefore, new high-frequency MRI probes are needed. This research will address fundamental electromagnetic challenges of high-resolution MRI by developing unconventional antenna probes for high-field MRI scanners to replace standard radio frequency coils. The results of the project will enhance the capabilities of high-field MRI and have an immediate impact on ongoing studies in animal behavior. Researchers of biological anthropology, fisheries and biology will benefit from new tools with shorter scan times and higher resolution. This work will also open the paths for new antenna probes for human and clinical MRI.This collaborative effort between the groups from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (Michigan Tech University), the Materials Research Institute ((Penn State University), and the Huck Magnetic Resonance Center (Penn State University) will explore a new approach to integrating antenna and MRI technologies, and propose novel patch antenna probes miniaturized by using gradient index metamaterials as a solution for antenna compatibility with MRI environment. Novel antenna probes will provide such advantages for high MRI frequencies as low loss, high Q factor and strong signal due to optimized coupling between patch and feeding systems that will increase image volume resolution by a factor of 10 over that of the present-day coils in a 20 T MRI scanner. The project includes computational electromagnetic modeling, design, and optimization of antenna probes; engineering composite dielectric substrates and fabricating antenna systems; and testing probes at the antenna facilities and in MRI scanners on phantoms and biological samples. The probes will be directly tested in biological research: the brain development of zebrafish will be initially explored as a model for other systems. The size flexibility of novel antennas will provide for customized volumes of uniform radio frequency field and allow for analyzing diverse samples including mice and single cells. There are outstanding opportunities for the broad and immediate dissemination of the project results through the Penn State's Center for MRI, which is a shared-use facility for all departments including anthropology and bioengineering, the Hershey Medical Center, and the NSF supported Center for Dielectric Studies comprised of industrial companies.

为了研究从单细胞到人类的各种生物系统，迫切需要具有增强空间分辨率和缩短扫描时间的磁共振成像 (MRI) 设施。高场 MRI 扫描仪的主要优点是它们有可能提供更高的解剖和时间分辨率。在过去的十年中，临床扫描仪的磁场已从 1.5 Tesla (T) 增加到 3 T，彻底改变了功能性 MRI 来绘制大脑活动图。更高的图像分辨率还可以消除在体内注射化学造影剂的需要，并允许更早地检测疾病。最近，9.4 T MRI 扫描仪已被探索用于人体解剖学研究。动物和植物成像预计将取得更多进展，这将在 7 T 至 20 T MRI 扫描仪中进行。使用 11.7 T 及更高场扫描仪实现微米级分辨率的细胞成像将成为可能。然而，传统线圈探头的性能在高场 MRI 系统所需的较高频率下会降低，因此需要新的高频 MRI 探头。这项研究将通过开发用于高场 MRI 扫描仪的非常规天线探头来取代标准射频线圈，解决高分辨率 MRI 的基本电磁挑战。该项目的结果将增强高场 MRI 的能力，并对正在进行的动物行为研究产生直接影响。生物人类学、渔业和生物学的研究人员将受益于扫描时间更短、分辨率更高的新工具。这项工作还将为人类和临床 MRI 的新型天线探针开辟道路。电气和计算机工程系（密歇根理工大学）、材料研究所（宾夕法尼亚州立大学）和哈克磁共振中心（宾夕法尼亚州立大学）的团队之间的合作将探索一种集成天线和 MRI 技术的新方法，并提出利用梯度折射率小型化的新型贴片天线探针 超材料作为天线与 MRI 环境兼容的解决方案。由于贴片和馈电系统之间的优化耦合，新型天线探头将为高 MRI 频率提供低损耗、高 Q 因数和强信号等优势，这将使图像体积分辨率比现有 20 T MRI 扫描仪中的线圈提高 10 倍。该项目包括天线的计算电磁建模、设计和优化 探针；工程复合介电基板和制造天线系统；并在天线设施和 MRI 扫描仪中对体模和生物样本测试探针。这些探针将直接在生物学研究中进行测试：斑马鱼的大脑发育将作为其他系统的模型进行初步探索。新型天线的尺寸灵活性将提供均匀射频场的定制体积，并允许分析不同的 样本包括小鼠和单细胞。通过宾夕法尼亚州立大学的 MRI 中心，有很好的机会广泛而立即传播该项目的结果，该中心是所有部门共享的设施，包括人类学和生物工程、好时医疗中心和由工业公司组成的 NSF 支持的介电研究中心。