CONSOLE UPGRADE FOR 4.7T/40-CM ANIMAL MR IMAGER

申请部分资金用于欧米茄4.7T MR的控制台升级 伊利诺伊州埃文斯顿MR研究中心的光谱仪/成像仪。中心 为埃文斯顿西北大学附属的科学家、医生和学生提供服务 医疗保健和西北大学。该系统目前用于进行 功能磁共振成像、19F成像、弥散成像和多核磁共振 中枢神经系统和大型肿瘤的波谱实验研究 和小动物。反复出现的计算机崩溃、硬件故障、不可用 部件和服务的数量以及系统稳定性的下降一直是 目前的控制台。此外，游戏机在计算机操作方面存在缺陷 系统、核磁共振软件、波形存储器、PSG板存储器、缓冲存储器 和数字化器板内存，这使得它不适合大多数fMRI和 复杂的实验。需要升级才能保持系统运行到 进行大型动物研究；将整个兔脑成像为多层图像 这目前是不可能的；提高系统稳定性；实现快速匀场； 采用复杂的脉冲形状，如绝热脉冲；便于获取 高时间分辨率的EPI数据，不受数据速率的限制 传输；并实现了许多内部开发的回声平面软件 图像失真校正和数据分析。拟议的升级将受益于 美国国立卫生研究院资助了研究学习、记忆、衰老、麻醉、缺血、 疼痛、肿瘤和直接向大脑输送药物。

Partial funding is requested for the console upgrade of an Omega 4.7T MR spectrometer/imager at the Center for MR Research, Evanston, IL. The center serves scientists, physicians and students affiliated with Evanston Northwestern Healthcare and Northwestern University. The system is currently used to conduct functional MR imaging, 19F imaging, diffusion mapping and multinuclear MR spectroscopy experiments to study the central nervous system and tumors in large and small animals. Recurring computer crashes, hardware failures, non-availability of parts and service and declining system stability have been major problems with the present console. In addition, the console has deficiencies in computer operating system, NMR software, waveform memory, PSG board memory, buffer memory, and digitizer board memory which render it unsuitable for most fMRI and sophisticated experiments. An upgrade is required to keep the system running to conduct large animal studies; to image the entire rabbit brain in a multi-slice image that is currently not possible; improve system stability; implement fast shimming; to employ complex pulse shapes such as adiabatic pulses; to facilitate acquisition of EPI data at great temporal resolution without being limited by rate of data transfer; and to implement the many in-house developed software for echo planar image distortion correction and data analysis. The proposed upgrade will benefit NIH funded studies that investigate learning, memory, aging, anesthesia, ischemia, pain, tumors and direct drug delivery to the brain.