BRUKER BIOSPEC 47/30 MRI UPGRADE

我们申请资金来升级我们的4.7特斯拉/33厘米直径欧米茄磁共振成像(MRI)光谱仪，它被布里格姆妇女医院(BWH)、儿童医院、哈佛医学院(HMS)的朗伍德医学研究中心的科学家和我们在波士顿大学的合作者密集地用于持续的、多学科的核磁共振(NMR)和MRI生物医学研究和研究培训。欧米茄核磁共振仪器目前存在严重的问题，严重降低了对其进行的研究的质量。它的硬件限制产生了糟糕的光谱线形，并且可以获得的图像质量很差，分辨率有限。过时的计算机使用了十年的、对用户不友好的软件，而无法升级既限制了实验的范围，也限制了实验的灵活性。幸运的是，4.7特斯拉超导磁体状态良好，不需要更换。硬件升级足以将我们有缺陷的仪器转变为最新的、多功能的工具，从而加强和加快研究和培训。拟议的Bruker Biosect升级包括具有改进的涡流补偿和额外的梯度强度的新梯度线圈、快速计算机控制的梯度垫片、改进的射频电子设备、专用射频线圈、动物处理组件、用户友好型、功率大大增强的软件和现代菜单驱动界面。建议成立一个内部咨询委员会和一份详细的管理计划，以监督所要求的核磁共振仪器的调度、操作和维护，并满足其用户的研究和培训需求。NIH支持的使用该仪器的磁共振研究项目包括肌酸激酶和脑能量学的研究、体内31P研究的快速光谱成像开发、用于矿物侵入性手术的组织内热相互作用的磁共振成像、易受攻击的动脉粥样硬化斑块的识别和调制、磁共振成像引导的聚焦超声手术、实验性脑肿瘤中血管生成和水肿的磁共振成像、具有临床意义的体积定位的二维核磁共振波谱研究。其他研究项目包括开发一种新的生物医学技术激光超极化诺贝尔气体磁共振成像，最初是由主要用户之一和其他人首创的。稀有气体磁共振成像正被应用于呼吸道和肺组织力学的研究，以及脑功能的使用。旨在提高研究活动质量的项目包括设计和实施动态三维成像的光学方法--“自适应核磁共振”，以及开发用于核磁共振图像定量分析和术中核磁共振引导手术的计算机化图像处理方法。

We request funding to upgrade our 4.7 Tesla/ 33 cm diameter Omega magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) spectrometer, which is intensively used for on-going, multi-disciplinary nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and MRI biomedical research and research training, by scientists at the Longwood Medical Research enter of the Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School (HMS), and our collaborators at Boston University. The Omega MRI instrument currently has serious problems that significantly degrade the quality of research performed on it. Its hardware limitations yield poor spectral lineshapes, and the images obtainable are of poor quality and limited resolution. The obsolete computer employs decade-old, user-unfriendly software, and the unavailability of upgrades limits both the range of experiments and the agility with which they can be implemented. Fortunately, the 4.7 Tesla superconducting magnet is in good condition and does not need replacement. A hardware upgrade is sufficient to transform our flawed instrument into an up-to-date, versatile tool that would enhance and accelerate research and training. The proposed Bruker Biospect upgrade includes new gradient coils with improved eddy current compensation and additional gradient strength, fast computer-controlled gradient-shimming, improved RF electronics, specialized RF coils, an animal handling assembly, user-friendly, software of greatly augmented power and a modern menu-driven interface. An internal advisory committee and a detailed management plan is proposed to supervise the scheduling, operation, and maintenance of the requested MRI instrument, and to satisfy the research and training needs of its users. NIH supported MRI research projects employing this instrument include, among others, investigations of creatine kinase and brain energetics, fast spectroscopic imaging development for in vivo 31P studies, MRI of thermal-interactions in tissue for minerally invasive surgery, identification and modulation of the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, MRI guided focused ultrasound surgery, MRI of angiogenesis and edema in experimental brain tumors, volume localized two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy studies of clinical relevance. Additional research projects include the development of a novel biomedical technology laser hyperpolarized nobel gas MRI, originally pioneered by one of the major users and others. Noble gas MRI is being applied to investigations of airway and lung tissue mechanics, and use of brain function. Projects aimed at improving the quality of the research activities include the design and implementation of optical methods for dynamic 3D imaging-- "Adaptive MRI", and the development of computerized image processing methods for quantitative analysis for MR images, and for intraoperative MRI guided surgery.