Realising the potential of open MRI for dynamic studies of human anatomy and function

实现开放式 MRI 在人体解剖学和功能动态研究中的潜力

• 批准号: EP/V025856/1
• 负责人: Penny Gowland
• 金额: $ 108.12万
• 依托单位: University of Nottingham
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FV025856%2F1
• 关键词: Realising; potential; open; MRI; dynamic

We use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as a powerful, non-invasive technique for the study of human anatomy, function and physiology, for instance to investigate how different treatments work and affect different people (experimental medicine and personalised medicine). Unfortunately standard cylindrical-bore MRI scanners force people to lie in a confined, supine position, which has several unfortunate consequences. Most importantly for the work we are focusing on here, gravity and posture have significant effects on the human body, and so forcing people to lie down can confound physiological studies. However beyond this, some patients simply cannot lie flat (for instance those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease -COPD). Furthermore, many patients find the conventional MRI scanners claustrophobic and children often need to be sedated to stop them moving during MRI scanning.We now have the chance to overcome these problems, since a recent major advance in magnet technology has allowed the development of new 'open MRI' systems, allowing people to sit, stand or lie down during scanning. The capabilities of the open scanners are currently limited because they cannot provide the ideal magnetic fields required for traditional MRI. However, in parallel, a revolution is occurring in MRI data acquisition and reconstruction, which can overcome the effects of these imperfect magnetic fields. We will combine these two major innovations in MRI, to provide a paradigm shift in open MRI, allowing us to acquire both structural and functional biomedical information in dynamic, naturalistic body positions.In this project we will focus on developing new technologies that will allow us to exploit the full capabilities of open MRI. We will design new RF coils that we use to collect the signal during MRI, we will develop a method to monitor the unintended variations in the magnetic fields that occur in the open scanner, and we will develop methods of collecting and reconstructing the imaging data to allow us to take account of these variations in field, and also subject motion. Our goal is to acquire images at high speed to allow us to monitor the function of the body in seated or standing positions, for instance fast enough to observe the movement of the gastrointestinal tract, or to allow people to breath freely whilst we image their lungs. We will develop generic solutions to address the challenges of open MRI, and then use them to produce tailored imaging approaches to address a series of specific biomedical questions that have been chosen as they need the advantages of open MRI. Specifically we will design solutions to study the following conditions:- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome for instance after viral infection including COVID19: it is particularly difficult for some respiratory patients to lie flat.- Gastroparesis: this is a debilitating condition which prevents normal stomach emptying, but gastric emptying can be changed by lying down. - Painful knee osteoarthritis: the knee is best studied in a standing position, but rapid scanning is required since weight-bearing can be painful for these patients.

我们使用磁共振成像 (MRI) 作为一种强大的非侵入性技术来研究人体解剖学、功能和生理学，例如研究不同的治疗方法如何发挥作用以及如何影响不同的人（实验医学和个性化医学）。不幸的是，标准的圆柱形核磁共振扫描仪迫使人们处于受限的仰卧位置，这会带来一些不幸的后果。对于我们在这里关注的工作来说，最重要的是，重力和姿势对人体有显着影响，因此强迫人们躺下可能会混淆生理研究。然而除此之外，有些患者根本无法平躺（例如患有慢性阻塞性肺疾病 - COPD 的患者）。此外，许多患者发现传统的 MRI 扫描仪有幽闭恐惧症，儿童在 MRI 扫描过程中通常需要服用镇静剂以阻止他们移动。我们现在有机会克服这些问题，因为最近磁体技术的重大进步允许开发新的“开放式 MRI”系统，允许人们在扫描过程中坐着、站立或躺下。目前开放式扫描仪的功能受到限制，因为它们无法提供传统 MRI 所需的理想磁场。然而，与此同时，MRI 数据采集和重建领域正在发生一场革命，这可以克服这些不完美磁场的影响。我们将结合 MRI 的这两项主要创新，实现开放 MRI 的范式转变，使我们能够在动态、自然的身体姿势中获取结构和功能生物医学信息。在这个项目中，我们将重点开发新技术，使我们能够充分利用开放 MRI 的功能。我们将设计新的射频线圈，用于在 MRI 期间收集信号，我们将开发一种方法来监测开放式扫描仪中发生的磁场意外变化，我们将开发收集和重建成像数据的方法，以便我们能够考虑磁场的这些变化以及对象的运动。我们的目标是高速采集图像，以便我们能够监测坐姿或站立位置的身体功能，例如足够快地观察胃肠道的运动，或者在我们对肺部进行成像时让人们自由呼吸。我们将开发通用解决方案来应对开放式 MRI 的挑战，然后使用它们来生成定制的成像方法，以解决一系列特定的生物医学问题，这些问题是因为需要开放式 MRI 的优势而选择的。具体来说，我们将设计解决方案来研究以下病症：- 急性呼吸窘迫综合征，例如包括新冠病毒在内的病毒感染后：对于某些呼吸道患者来说平躺特别困难。- 胃轻瘫：这是一种使人衰弱的病症，会阻止正常的胃排空，但躺下可以改变胃排空。 - 疼痛性膝骨关节炎：最好以站立姿势研究膝关节，但需要快速扫描，因为负重对这些患者来说可能会很痛苦。

项目成果

The Potential of Low-Field-Strength MRI for Simpler Fetal Scanning.

低场强 MRI 在简化胎儿扫描方面的潜力。

• DOI: 10.1148/radiol.232579
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: Radiology
• 影响因子: 19.7
• 作者: Gowland PA

Imaging Ventilation In Awake Non-sedated Pre-school Children With Free-Breathing Upright Proton MRI

使用自由呼吸直立质子 MRI 对清醒、未服用镇静学龄前儿童的通气进行成像

• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.pa353
• 发表时间: 2021
• 作者: Harkin J