Technology to Realize the Full Potential of UHF MRI

总体摘要 磁共振研究中心（CMRR）开创了许多至关重要的MR方法 在当代生物医学研究中，包括（但不限于）UHF仪器的引入， 伴随的技术，克服了它的挑战，加速MR成像方法，以及许多 使用光谱学和多核能力获得体内生化信息的方法。到 继续创新的传统，本中心提案的长期目标是建立一个国家资源 为了使超高频（UHF，主要是7T及以上），磁共振成像（MRI）技术， 推进生物医学研究和发现。为了建立这个P41中心，一些技术研究和 提出了将协同工作，以实现我们独特的 图像资源。TRD 1涉及多模式成像平台的开发， 光学成像，一种能够可视化单个神经元和突触的神经元活动的侵入性技术 水平，与非侵入性MRI方法，提供高分辨率的功能性MRI和连接数据， 整个大脑，但在一个粗糙的时空分辨率。这个平台将提供前所未有的机会 用于详细研究大脑功能潜在的行为，并为未来单独使用MRI的人类研究提供信息。TRD 2 专注于建立一个灵敏的分子成像平台，结合新颖的系统解决方案和先进的 策略进行多核MRI光谱和成像研究。该系统将提供无与伦比的 通过分子动力学、空间分布和分子动力学来表征组织的探针分子参数的灵敏度 功能代谢参数和先进的多核研究。TRD 3制定重建战略 支持高度加速的高分辨率成像方法，同时结合减少 生理运动和噪声的影响。这些重建方法通过克服 否则将是关于可实现的时间和空间分辨率的限制因素。TRD 4提供 关键工程解决方案，解决1）射频（RF）线圈（即天线）设计和安全性， 在超高频下进行灵敏的高分辨率成像，如果没有这些成像，TRD 1和TRD 2中设想的系统就不能 2）通过最小化加热和伪影（如果不解决）来在植入物周围成像的方法 这将限制超高频成像对大部分人口的访问。如前所述，这些项目可以 应对UHF的根本挑战。只有应对这些挑战，我们才能发展新的 真正推进基础和临床转化研究的方法。事实上正是这种发展的循环 和发现，激发，然后证明，花费时间和资源来开发，建设和网站， 10.5T系统在我们的中心。虽然10.5T扫描仪是拟议开发的中心，但其影响 该中心的生物医学研究将扩展到7T及以下以及MRI（认知科学， 神经科学、衰老、肌肉骨骼疾病、神经系统疾病、癌症等）。

OVERALL ABSTRACT The Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) has pioneered many of the MR methods that are critical in contemporary biomedical research including (but not limited to) the introduction of UHF instrumentation and accompanying techniques that overcome its challenges, accelerated MR imaging approaches, and many of the methods used to obtain biochemical information in vivo using spectroscopy and multinuclear capabilities. To continue the tradition of innovation, the long term goal of this Center proposal is to establish a national resource for enabling ultrahigh field (UHF, mostly 7T and above), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies to advance biomedical research and discovery. Towards building this P41 center, several technical research and development (TRD) projects are proposed that will work synergistically to realize the potential of our unique imaging resources. TRD1 involves the development of a multimodal imaging platform allowing simultaneous optical imaging, an invasive technology capable of visualizing neuronal activity at the single neuron and synapse level, with non-invasive MRI methods which provide high resolution functional MRI and connectivity data over the entire brain but at a coarser spatiotemporal resolution. This platform will provide unprecedented opportunities for detailed studies of brain function underlying behavior and inform future human studies using MRI alone. TRD2 focuses on establishing a sensitive molecular imaging platform combining novel systems solutions and advanced strategies to perform multinuclear MRI spectroscopy and imaging studies. This system will provide unparalleled sensitivity to probe molecular parameters to characterize tissue through molecular dynamics, spatial distributions of functional metabolic parameters and advanced multinuclear studies. TRD3 develops reconstruction strategies supporting highly accelerated high-resolution imaging approaches while incorporating methods to reduce the impact of physiologic motion and noise. These reconstruction methods advance the field by overcoming what otherwise would be limiting factors with respect to achievable temporal and spatial resolutions. TRD4 provides critical engineering solutions addressing both 1) radiofrequency (RF) coil (i.e. antennae) designs and safety for sensitive high resolution imaging at UHF without which the systems conceived of in TRD1 and TRD2 could not be realized and 2) methods to image around implants by minimizing heating and artifacts which if not addressed would limit the access of the UHF imaging to a large section of the population. As described, these projects can tackle the fundamental challenges of UHF. Only when these challenges are addressed can we develop the new approaches to truly advance basic and clinical translational research. In fact it is exactly this cycle of development and discovery that inspired, then justified, the spending of time and resources to develop, build and site the 10.5T system at our center. While the 10.5T scanner is at the center of the proposed developments, the impact of this Center on biomedical research will extend 7T and below as well as to fields beyond MRI (cognitive science, neuroscience, senescence, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological disorder, cancer among others).