SBIR Phase I: Evaluation of screen-printing as a manufacturing technique for MRI coils

SBIR 第一阶段：丝网印刷作为 MRI 线圈制造技术的评估

• 批准号: 1722130
• 负责人: Pierre Lechene
• 金额: $ 22.5万
• 依托单位: InkSpace Imaging, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-07-01 至 2018-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1722130&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Evaluation; screen; printing

This SBIR Phase I project tackles the key challenges of using screen-printing to manufacture receive coils for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at a commercial scale. MRI is widely used to establish a broad variety of clinical diagnosis, but suffers from long exam times and a high rate of failure, resulting in high costs. Printed receive coils are flexible, lightweight, conform well to the human body and can be manufactured at an order of magnitude lower costs. With this technology, coils can be designed and printed to fit all patient anatomy, therefore improving image quality and offering superior comfort. These technology offers the potential to increase success rate of MRI exams, speed up procedure time and to enhance clinical workflow. Printed coils will have an impact on the accessibility to MRI, serving a more diverse patient population, such as pediatric and bariatric patients, who currently have limited access to this imaging modality, due to the lack of adequate coils. Overall, this project aims at enabling the fabrication of printed coils, thus contributing to reduce health care costs associated with MRI while significantly improving the quality of patient care.This SBIR Phase I project investigates critical aspects of characterization of screen-printing MRI coil arrays for clinical use. We have shown that printed and flexible MRI arrays provide diagnostic images, while providing better fit and comfort to patients. Printing electronic materials is a novel manufacturing approach which is used here to fabricate these medical devices. Our goal is to provide coils with size and design customized for the diverse anatomy of patients. In this proposed program, we will evaluate the reproducibility of printing, design strategies and the robustness and lifetime of printed coil arrays. Coil size and geometry have a direct impact on image quality and body coverage. We will study the fundamental limits of coil size and geometry when fabricated using solution processed conductors with lower conductivity than conventional metals. The variations in measured signal-to-noise-ratio and image quality from print to print will be characterized and documented in order to provide a successful model for large-scale and low-cost manufacturing of coil arrays. Finally, the robustness of printed arrays will be tested. The packaging used in our designs are significantly different from the status-quo. Lifetime quantification for arrays used in clinical scenarios is important for a successful business plan.

这个SBIR一期项目解决了在商业规模上使用丝网印刷制造磁共振成像（MRI）接收线圈的关键挑战。MRI被广泛用于建立各种临床诊断，但其缺点是检查时间长，失败率高，导致成本高。印刷接收线圈灵活，重量轻，符合人体，并且可以以低数量级的成本制造。有了这项技术，线圈可以设计和打印，以适应所有病人的解剖结构，因此提高图像质量和提供卓越的舒适性。这些技术有可能提高MRI检查的成功率，加快手术时间，提高临床工作流程。打印线圈将对核磁共振成像的可及性产生影响，为更多样化的患者群体服务，例如儿科和肥胖患者，由于缺乏足够的线圈，他们目前无法获得这种成像方式。总体而言，该项目旨在实现打印线圈的制造，从而有助于降低与MRI相关的医疗保健成本，同时显著提高患者护理质量。这个SBIR一期项目研究了用于临床的丝网印刷MRI线圈阵列表征的关键方面。我们已经证明，打印和柔性MRI阵列提供诊断图像，同时为患者提供更好的贴合和舒适度。印刷电子材料是一种新的制造方法，用于制造这些医疗设备。我们的目标是为不同解剖结构的患者提供不同尺寸和设计的线圈。在本计划中，我们将评估印刷的再现性，设计策略以及印刷线圈阵列的稳健性和寿命。线圈尺寸和几何形状直接影响图像质量和机身覆盖率。我们将研究当使用比传统金属电导率低的溶液处理导体制造时线圈尺寸和几何形状的基本限制。测量的信噪比和图像质量的变化将被表征和记录，以便为大规模和低成本制造线圈阵列提供一个成功的模型。最后，将测试打印阵列的鲁棒性。我们设计中使用的包装与现状有很大不同。临床场景中使用的阵列的寿命量化对于成功的商业计划非常重要。