OPTIMIZED COIL ARRAYS FOR FUNCTIONAL MRI OF THE BRAIN

功能性磁共振成像（FMRI）最近显示出以非侵入性方式对工作的人类皮层进行近乎实时观察的潜力。FMRI的应用包括研究（认知神经科学）和临床（癫痫焦点识别）。传统的头部和表面线圈导致有限的信噪比（SNR）和由于患者运动引起的图像失真限制了该技术的可靠性。本文提出的相控阵线圈利用主要制造商的MRI系统上可用的先进多通道硬件，同时提高信噪比，并在可选区域增强对整个皮层的覆盖。在大脑皮层的主要区域，信噪比预计会增加至少2倍。预计整个大脑的信噪比至少会增加15%。集成的机械稳定系统将确保三个轴的运动小于+/- 1毫米，以最大限度地减少运动伪影。第二阶段的完成将在主要的相控阵MRI系统上提供完整的优化的FMRI阵列系统。该系统将高信噪比、最小运动伪影、舒适性和安全性与兼容的视觉、听觉和触觉刺激附属设备相结合。对FMRI的高度兴趣将导致100多台的销售，在两到三年内产生数百万美元的收入。拟议的商业应用：高性能虚拟MRI线圈阵列系统的开发预计将占美国4000多台临床MRI系统的8%。每台设备的名义成本为4万美元，300多台的销售额代表着1200万美元的市场。随着大脑功能性核磁共振成像的普及，这个数字可能会增加两到三倍。仅头线圈阵列就可以代表额外的5000万美元以上的销售额，作为现有劣质临床头线圈的替代品。

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) has recently shown potential for allowing nearly real time observation of the working human cortex in a non-invasive manner. Applications for FMRI include research (cognitive neuroscience) and clinical (seizure focus identification). Conventional head and surface coils have resulted in limited signal-to- noise ratios (SNR's) and image distortions due to patient motion have limited the reliability of the technique. The phased array coils proposed here utilize advanced multichannel hardware available on major manufacturer's MRI systems to simultaneously increase SNR and provide coverage of the complete cortex with enhancement in selectable regions. An increase in SNR by a factor of at least 2 is expected for major regions of the cortex. An increase in SNR of at least 15% is expected over the entire brain. An integrated mechanical stabilization system will assure less than +/- 1 mm motion in all three axes to minimize motion artifacts. The completion of phase II will provide a complete optimized FMRI array system on the major phased array MRI systems. This system will combine high SNR, minimal motion artifact, comfort and safety with compatible visual, auditory and tactile stimulation accessory devices. The high level of interest in FMRI should result in 100+ unit sales, generating several million dollars of revenue over two to three years. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The development of a high performance fiinctional MRI coil array system is expected to generate sales from 8% of the 4,000+ US clinical MRI systems. At a nominal cost $40,000 per device, the 300+ sales represent a $12M market. As functional MRI of the brain gains popularity, this figure could increase by a factor of two or three. The head coil array alone could represent an additional $50M+ in sales, as a replacement for inferior existing clinical head coils.