Development and Validation of Cardiovascular MR Imaging and Spectroscopy at 7 Tesla

7 特斯拉心血管 MR 成像和光谱的开发和验证

• 批准号: G0900883/1
• 负责人: Matthew Robson
• 金额: $ 174.32万
• 依托单位: University of Oxford
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2011 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=G0900883%2F1
• 关键词: Development; Validation; Cardiovascular; MR; Imaging

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows us to image the inside of the human body non-invasively. Pioneered in the brain, this technique has become invaluable over the last 5-10 years for imaging the heart in the clinic. MRI scanners operate at a magnetic field strength of 1.5Tesla (T). We have pioneered the use of 3T scanners, and have most recently purchased the highest field strength commercially available human scanner (7Tesla). Imaging at higher field strength results in more signal, and thus, the images are obtained quicker, or with higher spatial resolution. The areas that we will develop at 7T are those that are limited by low SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) at 1.5 and 3T. These include imaging the coronary arteries, imaging the oxygenation of the blood, and using magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure the energy-rich metabolites in the human heart. Coronary artery imaging is particularly important as these vessels are critical to supplying blood to the heart (blockages cause heart attack). The higher SNR of 7T will show the blood and walls of these vessels at higher resolution than has previously been possible with MRI enabling us to visualise small plaques and subtle damage. The metabolic condition of the heart is another important area of research where we in Oxford are world leaders. A technique called magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals the biochemistry of the heart. Levels of phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate, which are essential energy-providing metabolites, can give an indication of damage even before functional changes become apparent. At 7T, the higher spatial resolution enables the MRS examination of small regions in the heart, equivalent to those presently required in a clinical examination (impossible at lower field strength). Additional projects will build on these methods to look at oxygen supply, the degree of fibrous scar tissue, and the blood supply from small vessels in the heart. Clinically these developments have the potential to transform MR imaging of cardiac metabolism, oxygenation, and coronary plaque biology from a niche research tool into a mainstream diagnostic measure that can treat the patient as an individual, enabling doctors to monitor the progress of a disease or the response to therapy over time. These techniques would contribute significantly to improving cardiovascular health and to relieving the burden of cardiovascular disease. Our plans are highly novel, and we would be the first site in the UK, and one of an elite group world-wide developing cardiac MR at 7T.

磁共振成像(MRI)使我们能够非侵入性地对人体内部进行成像。这项技术最先是在大脑中进行的，在过去的5-10年里，在临床上对心脏进行成像已经变得非常宝贵。核磁共振扫描仪的磁场强度为1.5特斯拉(T)。我们率先使用了3T扫描仪，最近购买了商用的最高场强人体扫描仪(7Tesla)。在高场强下成像会产生更多的信号，因此获得图像的速度更快，或者具有更高的空间分辨率。我们将在7T开发的领域是那些受到1.5和3T低信噪比(SNR)限制的领域。这些包括对冠状动脉成像，对血液的氧合成像，以及使用磁共振波谱来测量人类心脏中能量丰富的代谢物。冠状动脉成像特别重要，因为这些血管对向心脏供应血液至关重要(堵塞会导致心脏病发作)。7T的高信噪比将以比MRI更高的分辨率显示这些血管的血液和管壁，使我们能够可视化小斑块和微小的损伤。心脏的代谢状况是我们牛津大学处于世界领先地位的另一个重要研究领域。一种名为磁共振波谱的技术揭示了心脏的生物化学。磷酸肌酸和三磷酸腺苷是提供能量的重要代谢物，即使在功能变化明显之前，它们的水平也可以给出损害的迹象。在7T时，较高的空间分辨率可以对心脏的小区域进行MRS检查，相当于目前临床检查所需的检查(在低场强下是不可能的)。其他项目将建立在这些方法的基础上，以观察氧气供应、纤维疤痕组织的程度以及心脏小血管的血液供应。在临床上，这些发展有可能将心脏代谢、氧合和冠状动脉斑块生物学的磁共振成像从一种利基研究工具转变为一种主流诊断手段，可以将患者作为个体对待，使医生能够随着时间的推移监测疾病的进展或对治疗的反应。这些技术将大大有助于改善心血管健康和减轻心血管疾病的负担。我们的计划非常新颖，我们将成为英国的第一个地点，也是世界范围内开发7T心脏磁共振的精英集团之一。