A High-Performance 3T MRI Scanner for Brain Imaging

项目总结/摘要 国家强调提高对我们大脑的理解（例如，大脑倡议，人类 连接组计划）将大脑成像推向了科学研究的前沿。固有的 高分辨率和非侵入性的优势使磁共振成像（MRI）成为 人类大脑研究的主要方法。我们是开发创新MRI的领导者之一 方法，并应用它们来研究人类大脑的工作机制。通过 与GE Healthcare的两年合作，并由我们的机构基金资助，我们成功地共同 开发并安装了最先进的原型3 T MRI，具有高功率扭矩平衡梯度 线圈、高通道数RF阵列，采用GE的AIR TechnologyTM，一种用于动态图像的快速阵列处理器 处理和校正，以及一套先进的脉冲序列，所有这些都是为了实现 最高可能的空间分辨率、空间保真度、成像速度、时间稳定性和灵敏度。这 原型3 T扫描仪将继续进行技术升级，以保持在MRI的最前沿 技术，并支持我们的先进技术研究活动以及我们的神经科学的一部分 可以容忍定期硬件升级的应用程序。然而，这款原型3 T扫描仪已经达到了 在过去的一年里，由于我们的许多神经科学研究没有准备好进入这些领域， 关键的MRI技术。为了满足我们38个NIH项目所需的剩余扫描时间，我们 要求资金全面升级我们现有的MR 750 3 T MRI，除了主磁体，以节省 成本，到产品GE超高性能（UHP）3 T系统运行在最新的总理平台。这 一种新的最先进的3 T扫描仪主要基于我们的原型3 T MRI扫描仪，但具有更恒定的 用于神经科学应用的硬件和软件功能（产品扫描仪的标准） 在人类受试者中进行纵向和横向比较。这个HEI S10项目，题为“A 用于脑成像的高性能3 T MRI扫描仪”，由25名NIH支持的研究人员提交， 我主要在杜克的脑成像和分析中心（BIAC）进行神经成像研究 大学医学院。我们的合作科学家发现， 这种新型3 T UHP MRI的分辨率、高成像速度和高信噪比是 现代脑成像研究。凭借卓越的技术和管理基础设施，BIAC 近二十年来一直为NIH资助的研究人员服务。因此，我们相信，我们将有效地 并有效地管理这台共享的高端仪器，为我们的用户提供最佳的成像工具进行调查 健康和疾病中的人脑，满足我们神经科学不断增长的需求 研究人员及其NIH赞助的研究项目。

Project Summary/Abstract The national emphasis on improving the understanding of our brains (e.g. the BRAIN initiative, the Human Connectome Project) has pushed brain imaging to the forefront of scientific research. The inherent advantages of high resolution and noninvasiveness have made magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) one of the predominent methods for brain research in humans. We are among the leaders in developing innovative MRI methodologies and applying them to investigate the working mechanisms of the human brain. Through a two-year collaboration with GE Healthcare, and funded by our institutional funds, we successfully co- developed and installed a state-of-the-art prototype 3T MRI that has a high-power torque-balanced gradient coil, high-channel-count RF arrays with GE's AIR TechnologyTM, a fast array processor for dynamic image processing and correction, and a suite of advanced pulse sequences, all of which are designed to achieve the highest possible spatial resolution, spatial fidelity, imaging speed, temporal stability, and sensitivity. This prototype 3T scanner will continue to undergo technological upgrades to stay at the forefront of MRI technology, and support our advanced technical research activities as well as a portion of our neuroscience applications that can tolerate periodic hadrware upgrades. However, this prototype 3T scanner has reached full capacity over the past year, as a result many of our neuroscience studies do not have ready access to these critical MRI technologies. To accommodate the remaining scan hours required by our 38 NIH projects, we are requesting funds to fully upgrade our existing MR750 3T MRI, with the exception of the main magnet to save cost, to the product GE UltraHigh Performace (UHP) 3T system running on the latest Premier platform. This new state-of-the-art 3T scanner is largely based on our prototype 3T MRI scanner, but has more constant hardware and software features (standard for a product scanner) for neuroscience applications that require both longitudinal and cross-sectional comparisons among human subjects. This HEI S10 project, titled “A High-Performance 3T MRI Scanner for Brain Imaging”, is submitted by 25 NIH-supported investigators who primarily conduct neuroimaging research at the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center (BIAC) at Duke University Medical School. Our collaborating scientists have found that the high spatial and teporal resolutions, high imaging speed, and high signal-to-noise ratio of this new 3T UHP MRI are must-haves in modern brain imaging research. With our outstanding technical and management infrastructure, BIAC has been serving NIH-funded investigators for nearly two decadeds. We are thus confident that we will effectively and efficiently manage this shared high-end instrument to give our users the best imaging tools to investigate human brains in health and in disease, meeting the ever increasing demand from our neuroscience investigators and their NIH-sponsored research projects.