QUADRATURE, RF COIL ARRAYS FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL MRI

拟议的工作属于国家机构间监测系统的使命范围。在第I阶段，将在1.5T下开发一种新型容积RF线圈阵列，用于高分辨率膝关节MRI，信噪比提高30-40%。 在六个月的项目期间，将经常观察模式分布，并计划进行体模测量。第二阶段将涉及优化膝盖线圈，缩小设计为椭圆形线圈的手腕成像。 还计划扩展到用于髋关节成像的while-body线圈。 在患者使用前，所有这些线圈都将由体模和志愿者进行严格评价。一个主要的技术重点是进一步提高NMR实验的信噪比2倍。 潜在的临床和研究用途将面向获得可靠的，可重复的高分辨率图像，以提高诊断准确性，减少扫描时间，减少患者不适，同时增加MR扫描仪的吞吐量。 我们认为这将给人类带来重大利益。拟定商业应用：临床应用包括非电离，非侵入性和成本效益的方法来诊断关节炎和肌肉骨骼疾病的膝盖，手腕和手，脚和脚踝和髋关节相比，侵入性关节造影。 该项目将提供MR相控阵线圈技术的改进，包括序列和技术优化。 如果临床价值得到证实，基于该技术的MR系统将在人体肌肉骨骼系统成像中得到广泛应用。

The work proposed is within the mission of the NIAMS. In Phase I, a novel volume RF coil array with a 30-40% improvement in S/N for high-resolution knee MRI will be developed at 1.5T. Frequently mode distributions will be observed and phantom measurements are planned during the six month project. Phase II will involve optimizing the knee coil, shrinking the design to an elliptically shaped coil for wrist imaging. Expansions to a while-body coil for hip imaging are also planned. All these coils will be evaluated with phantoms and volunteers rigorously, prior to patient use. A major technical focus is to further improve the S/N of a NMR experiment by a factor of 2. Potential clinical and research uses will be geared toward obtaining reliable, reproducible high-resolution images needed to enhance diagnostic accuracy in possibly reduced scan times, decreasing patient discomfort while increasing throughput in a MR scanner. This we believe will be of a substantial benefit to mankind. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Clinical applications include non-ionizing, non-invasive and a cost effective approach toward diagnosis of arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases of the knee, wrist & hand, foot & ankle and hip when compared to the invasive arthrography. This project will provide improvements to MR phased array coil technology, including sequence and technique optimizations. If clinical value is demonstrated, MR systems based on this technology will find widespread applications in imaging the human musculoskeletal system.