A High-Performance 3T MRI Scanner for Brain Imaging

项目摘要/摘要 国家对提高对我们大脑的理解的重视(例如，大脑倡议，人类 Connectome Project)将脑成像推到了科学研究的前沿。固有的 高分辨率和非侵入性的优点使磁共振成像(MRI)成为 人类大脑研究的主要方法。我们是开发创新核磁共振的领先者之一 方法并将其应用于研究人脑的工作机制。通过一个 与GE Healthcare进行了两年的合作，并由我们的机构基金提供资金，我们成功地共同 开发并安装了具有高功率扭矩平衡梯度的最先进的3T磁共振成像原型 线圈，高通道数射频阵列，采用GE的AIR Technology TM，这是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3T扫描仪将继续进行技术升级，以保持在MRI领域的领先地位 技术，并支持我们的高级技术研究活动以及我们的部分神经科学 可容忍定期硬件升级的应用程序。然而，这台3T扫描仪的原型已经达到了 在过去的一年里满负荷运行，因此我们的许多神经科学研究无法随时访问这些 关键的核磁共振技术。为了适应我们的38个NIH项目所需的剩余扫描时间，我们 申请资金全面升级我们现有的MR750 3T核磁共振，除了要节省的主磁铁 成本，到运行在最新Premier平台上的产品GE超高性能(UHP)3T系统。这 最新的3T扫描仪在很大程度上是基于我们的原型3T MRI扫描仪，但具有更稳定的 用于神经科学应用的硬件和软件功能(产品扫描仪的标准)，需要 人类受试者之间的纵向和横断面比较。这个HEI S10项目，名为“A 高性能3T磁共振脑成像扫描仪“，由美国国立卫生研究院支持的25名研究人员提交 主要在杜克大学脑成像和分析中心(BIAC)进行神经成像研究 大学医学院。我们合作的科学家已经发现，高度的空间和时间 这种新的3T超高功率磁共振成像必须具有分辨率、高成像速度和高信噪比 现代脑成像研究。凭借卓越的技术和管理基础设施，BIAC拥有 为NIH资助的调查人员服务了近20年。因此，我们相信，我们将有效地 并高效地管理这一共享的高端仪器，为我们的用户提供最好的成像工具进行研究 人类大脑的健康和疾病，满足了我们神经科学日益增长的需求 研究人员和他们由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.