ShEEP-IC: Request to purchase MAGNETOM Skyra 3T complete concurrent field monitoring and motion correction system upgrade

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We are requesting funds to purchase complete concurrent field monitoring and motion correction system upgrade for our MAGNETOM Skyra 3T scanner at a budgetary quote of $816,370 (see 13_VA_Appendix_3_Quote.pdf). This upgrade comprises of two main components that will be used simultaneously for synergistic improvements to scan spatial resolution, robustness and quality. Upgrades for the Siemens 3T Skyra MRI scanner: 1. Kineticor Motion Correction System, KC-3T70 ($132,500) 2. Skope Complete Concurrent Monitoring System ($683,870) The Kineticor Motion Correction System uses a low profile, quad camera system to monitor and correct for patient head motion in real time during the MRI scan acquisition. This is achieved by feeding back the motion estimates to the scanner to update the imaging gradients as well as RF frequency and phase on TR by TR basis. The Skope Complete Concurrent Monitoring System uses 16 field probes to measure and correct for artifact inducing dynamic fluctuations in the main magnetic field (e.g. due to respiration, head motion, or other MRI system imperfections). The Skope Complete system includes the Neurocam (a dedicated RF head coil integrated with the 16 field probes) as well as the Clip-on Camera (a separate set of 16 field probes) for users who wish to perform concurrent monitoring with their existing Siemens RF head coils. Critically, not only would the proposed upgrade facilitate non-invasive imaging of the whole brain at unprecedented spatial resolutions, but it would also allow for robust, high quality imaging of challenging patient populations - including those who have difficulty keeping still (e.g. children, elderly, and those with neurological disorders) as well as those who are prone to generate physiologically induced image artifacts (e.g. large, obese patients and those with irregular breathing patterns). As such, existing research projects would also reap both time and cost savings since fewer subjects’ data would be lost or need to be re-acquired due to poor image quality. Funding this proposal would also greatly augment our ongoing efforts to recruit high-quality faculty candidates as well as efforts to attract cross-institution collaborators, which help keep the VA at the cutting edge of imaging technology development and clinical applications - ultimately supporting veterans afflicted with disease, such as neurological (TBI) and psychiatric (PTSD) disorders, for whom adequate diagnostic tools are not yet available.