Gradient Coils to Enhance MRI Research in Mental Health

描述(由申请人提供)： 第一阶段的研究表明，用平面梯度线圈代替传统的圆柱形线圈设计，在磁共振扫描仪内部提供更大的工作空间，在技术上是可行的。平面梯度线圈设计增加了数百台小口径超高场扫描仪的研究潜力，包括各种大型动物。为了扩大这一系统的应用并加快其商业化潜力，第二阶段产品开发的第一年将集中于：(1)设计三个梯度线圈并将其集成到平面结构中，(2)将这种设计融入已经安装了射频电子设备的小动物约束中，以及(3)启动这项新技术的生产、营销和销售的商业化计划。为临床前MRI开发集成到双线圈动物约束装置中的平面梯度线圈设计将对美国国家精神卫生研究所感兴趣的两个主要领域产生影响：(1)改进治疗精神疾病的药物发现和药物评估；(2)对动物整个生命周期的大脑结构、活动和化学进行非侵入性成像。任何治疗精神障碍的药物发现和开发计划的一个重要部分是评估多种动物模型的大脑活动和行为，特别是非人类灵长类动物。这项提案中开发的产品将使研究人员能够在增强信噪比的情况下进行功能成像/药物/开发研究。最终的产品设计将提供更高的灵活性和可用性，使非专业科学家能够在广泛的磁场强度和口径大小范围内对一系列研究动物进行成像。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In Phase I of this STTR it was shown that it is technically feasible to substitute a planar gradient coil design for the conventional cylindrical coil design to provide greater working space inside magnetic resonance scanners. The planar gradient coil design increases the research potential of hundreds of small-bore ultra-high field scanners to include a variety of large animals. To expand the application of this system and expedite its commercialization potential the first year of Phase II product develop will focus on: (1) the design and integration of three gradient coils into a planar configuration, (2) incorporation of this design into small animal restrainers already fitted with radiofrequency electronics, and (3) start of a commercialization plan for production, marketing and sales of this new technology. Developing a planar gradient coil design integrated into a dual coil animal restrainer for preclinical MRI will impact on two major areas of interest to the National Institute of Mental Health: (1) improving drug discovery and drug evaluation in the treatment of mental illness, and (2) noninvasive imaging of brain structure, activity and chemistry over the life span of an animal. An essential piece of any drug discovery and development program for psychiatric disorders is evaluating brain activity and behavior in multiple animal models, particularly non-human primates. The products developed in this proposal will allow researchers to perform functional imaging/drug/development studies with enhanced signal-to- noise. The final product design will provide enhanced flexibility and usability, making it possible for the lay scientist to perform imaging on a range of research animals over a wide range of magnet field strengths and bore sizes.