Non-cryogenic Fieldable Interleaved Magnetoencephalography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging based on Multichannel Atomic Magnetometers

基于多通道原子磁强计的非低温现场交错脑磁图和磁共振成像

• 批准号: 10596209
• 负责人: Young Jin Kim
• 金额: $ 60.03万
• 依托单位: TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-04-01 至 2025-12-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10596209
• 关键词: Acceleration; Algorithms; Alkali Metals; Anatomy; Area; Biomedical Technology; Brain; Brain Diseases; Brain Mapping; Brain imaging; Cardiac; Cells; Chest; Childhood; Clinic; Clinical; Coupled; Coupling; Dedications; Deterioration; Development; Devices; Diagnosis; Epilepsy; Fatigue; Fiber; Frequencies; Geometry; Head; Helmet; Hospitals; Human; Hybrids; Image; Image Enhancement; Laboratories; Lasers; Link; Location; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetism; Magnetoencephalography; Measurement; Metals; Methods; Modality; Neurologic; Patients; Performance; Physiologic pulse; Positioning Attribute; Production; Public Health; Research; Resolution; Services; Signal Transduction; Source; Speed; Structure; System; Technology; Testing; Time; Water; Work; cost; cryogenics; data acquisition; design; field study; flexibility; health care service; human imaging; imaging system; improved; insight; instrument; magnetic devices; magnetic field; mathematical ability; mobile application; neuroimaging; neurosurgery; novel; novel strategies; operation; portability; prevent; prototype; sensor; source localization; suburb; superconducting quantum interference device; vapor

This proposal aims to develop a first non-cryogenic fieldable multichannel system to enable interleaved measurements of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the ultra-low field (ULF) regime (<< 1 T) and magneto- encephalography (MEG) of the human brain. The combination of the two modalities is uniquely capable of linking the sources of biomagnetic brain activity (MEG) to the specific anatomical brain structure (ULF MRI) with both excellent temporal and spatial resolution. In addition, the combination essentially eliminates co-registration errors based on the common MEG-MRI coordinate system. This advanced biomedical technology will enhance understanding of human brain function, aid in diagnosis and treatment of multiple brain disorders such as the epileptic focus, and improve neurosurgical planning. Previously, the MEG-MRI combination was realized only using multiple cryogenic superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) sensors. However, the demand for cryo-cooling and a shielded room is a major drawback. We will build a more practical device by replacing SQUIDs with a novel type of atomic magnetometers (AMs). Based on lasers and alkali-metal vapor cells, AMs are currently the most sensitive cryogen-free magnetic sensors. Specific aims are to: (1) Develop an original compact 16-channel AM module for MEG. It delivers a large number of sensing channels based on a single large vapor cell and two broad nearly parallel laser beams. This new approach leads to significant cost reduction compared to commercial SQUID-based MEG systems. (2) Construct a wearable full-head MEG helmet. We will produce 15–20 compact AM MEG modules for mounting on a helmet for full-head coverage with up to 320 channels. Due to the laser-to-fiber coupling, the module positions will be adjustable for different head geometries for closer proximity of sensors to the head. This will result in improved localization and sensitivity. We will obtain functional brain maps with the MEG helmet. (3) Construct a new multichannel ULF MRI device based on a single- module multichannel AM coupled to multiple flux transformers (FTs). For MRI, the AM design will be modified to allow orthogonal laser beams, and a bias magnetic field will be applied to tune the AM to target MRI frequencies of ~200 kHz. Each FT will be composed of two connected coils, one located near the human head and the other near the AM vapor cell, to transfer MRI signals to the AM. The FT coils can be flexibly arranged around the human head to enhance an MRI signal. We will demonstrate ULF MRI measurements of the human head with an optimized FT array. (4) Combine the full-head MEG helmet and the ULF MRI device in a single instrument. The combination will be achieved by attaching the MRI FT coils to the MEG helmet. The device will be installed in a shielded room for a proof of feasibility and then in a human-sized cylindrical mu-metal magnetic shield for enabling mobile applications. We will perform interleaved imaging of brain activity and structure with high temporal and spatial resolution. We will also develop MEG and MRI algorithms for data acquisition/analysis and high accuracy biomagnetic source localization.

该提案旨在开发第一个非低温可现场多通道系统，以实现交错 超低场 (ULF) 状态 (<< 1 T) 和磁电磁共振成像 (MRI) 测量 人脑脑电图（MEG）。两种模式的结合具有独特的链接能力 生物磁脑活动 (MEG) 的来源到特定的大脑解剖结构 (ULF MRI) 出色的时间和空间分辨率。此外，该组合基本上消除了共同配准错误 基于通用的MEG-MRI坐标系。这项先进的生物医学技术将增强 了解人类大脑功能，有助于诊断和治疗多种脑部疾病，例如 癫痫焦点，并改善神经外科计划。此前，MEG-MRI组合仅实现 使用多个低温超导量子干涉装置（SQUID）传感器。然而，需求 低温冷却和屏蔽室是一个主要缺点。我们将通过替换来构建更实用的设备 带有新型原子磁力计 (AM) 的 SQUID。基于激光和碱金属蒸气电池的 AM 是目前最灵敏的无制冷剂磁传感器。具体目标是： (1) 开发原创 适用于 MEG 的紧凑型 16 通道 AM 模块。它基于单个大型传感器提供大量传感通道 蒸汽室和两束近乎平行的宽激光束。这种新方法可显着降低成本 与基于 SQUID 的商用 MEG 系统相比。 (2) 构建可穿戴式全头MEG头盔。我们将 生产 15–20 个紧凑型 AM MEG 模块，用于安装在头盔上，覆盖最多 320 个头部 渠道。由于激光与光纤的耦合，模块位置可针对不同的头部几何形状进行调整 让传感器更接近头部。这将提高定位和灵敏度。我们将获得 使用 MEG 头盔绘制功能性脑图。 (3)基于单通道构建新型多通道ULF MRI装置 模块多通道 AM 耦合到多个磁通变压器 (FT)。对于 MRI，AM 设计将修改为 允许正交激光束，并且将应用偏置磁场来将 AM 调整到目标 MRI 频率 约 200 kHz。每个 FT 将由两个连接的线圈组成，一个位于人体头部附近，另一个位于人体头部附近 靠近 AM 蒸汽室，将 MRI 信号传输到 AM。 FT线圈可以灵活地布置在 人体头部增强 MRI 信号。我们将演示人体头部的 ULF MRI 测量 优化的 FT 阵列。 (4)将全头MEG头盔和ULF MRI设备结合在一台仪器中。 该组合将通过将 MRI FT 线圈连接到 MEG 头盔来实现。设备将被安装 在屏蔽室中进行可行性证明，然后在人体大小的圆柱形高导磁合金磁屏蔽中进行 启用移动应用程序。我们将对大脑活动和结构进行高交错成像 时间和空间分辨率。我们还将开发用于数据采集/分析的 MEG 和 MRI 算法 高精度生物磁源定位。