STTR Phase I: Enhancing MRI performance by using nonlinear metamaterials

该小企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是改善临床磁共振成像（MRI）。该项目将提高图像质量和/或缩短扫描时间，提高吞吐量，并降低这种现代诊断工具的成本。这项技术可能会改善患者对MRI的使用。 这个小企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目通过构建非线性超材料（NLMM）增强表面线圈来提高信噪比（SNR），从而推进磁共振成像（MRI）。将研究NLMM和表面线圈之间的耦合，以优化SNR增强，并通过理论建模和数值模拟避免潜在的图像伪影。NLMM集成表面线圈的制造和实现将通过新型增材制造和传统丝网印刷技术的结合进行研究，以大规模生产此类设备。NLMM增强表面线圈性能将通过图像重建算法的串联开发进行优化，以通过考虑NLMM诱导的场梯度来生成改进的MRI图像采集。该项目的最终目标是提供高度集成的NLMM增强表面线圈，以显著提高MRI的SNR。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to improve clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This project will enable improved image quality and/or shortened scan time, increasing the throughput, and decreasing the cost of this modern diagnostic tool. Potentially, this technology will improve patient access to MRI. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project advances magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by constructing nonlinear metamaterial (NLMM)-enhanced surface coils to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The coupling between the NLMM and the surface coil will be investigated to optimize the SNR enhancement and avoid potential image artifacts through theoretical modeling and numerical simulation. The fabrication and implementation of the NLMM-integrated surface coil will be studied via the marriage of novel additive manufacturing and conventional screen-printing technology for mass production of such devices. The NLMM-enhanced surface coil performance will be optimized with the tandem development of image reconstruction algorithms to generate an improved MRI image acquisition by taking the field gradient induced by the NLMMs into account. The ultimate goal of this project is to provide highly integrated NLMM-enhanced surface coils to significantly improve SNR of MRI.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.