Biomedical Applications of Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance

描述(申请人提供)：提出了一系列实验，旨在发展核四极共振(NQR)的生物医学应用。NQR类似于MRI，但不需要外部磁场。将NQR和MRI技术相结合，可能有助于扩展医学光谱和成像的能力，超越目前由于磁铁要求而造成的现有限制。在第一阶段，将构建一个三维激励/检测设备，与传统的线性设备相比，预计将在信噪比方面产生显著改善。该装置还可用于研究样品排序和帮助抑制声学振铃。该项目的第二阶段将致力于在赞助方实验室先前开发的磁场梯度技术的基础上开发NQR光谱的三维空间定位。在研究的第三部分，将获得来自肌肉组织的酰胺14N核的NQR信号。这一过程将得到该集团目前使用的一些超敏感采集和信号处理技术的帮助。NQR信号的频率预计取决于肌肉的紧张状态，与空间定位方法相结合，可能会立即在心脏医学中得到应用。该项目将对申请者具有巨大的教育价值，他们将接触到许多先进的NQR技术，其中一些技术是赞助商实验室独有的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A series of experiments is proposed, aimed at developing the biomedical application of Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR). NQR is similar to MRI, but requires no external magnetic field. Combining NQR and MRI technologies can potentially help expand capabilities of medical spectroscopy and imaging beyond currently existing limitations imposed by the requirement of the magnet. In the first stage, a three-dimensional excitation/detection device will be constructed, which is expected to yield significant improvements in the signal-to-noise ratio, as compared to the conventional linear devices. The device can also be used to study sample ordering and to help suppress acoustic ringing. The second phase of the project will be dedicated to the development of a three-dimensional spatial localization of the NQR spectra based on the magnetic-field gradient technique previously developed in the sponsor's laboratory. In the third part of the investigations, an NQR signal from the amide 14N nuclei of muscle tissue will be obtained. The process will be aided by a number of ultra-sensitive acquisition and signal processing techniques currently used in the group. The frequency of the NQR signal is expected to be dependent of the tension state of the muscles, which, combined with the spatial-localization methodology, may find its immediate application in cardiac medicine. The project will have tremendous educational value for the applicant, who will be exposed to many advanced NQR techniques, some of which are uniquely available in the sponsor's laboratory.