Development of Zero TE MRI to visualise cranial bones, nerves and vessels

博士项目的目的：利用ZTE（Zero Echo-Time）MRI序列的独特性能，准确显示常规成像难以或无法显示的颅骨解剖结构（骨骼、血管、颅神经），展示ZTE解剖成像在手术和放射治疗计划中的临床益处。项目描述/背景医学成像的主要用途是计划临床程序，包括癌症的手术或放射治疗。随着外科手术变得越来越先进，医学成像技术必须跟上步伐，以提供详细的，个性化的解剖信息。一个特别苛刻的例子是颌面外科，这是管理牙痛和衰弱性头痛的关键。虽然可以用MRI对大脑进行细致的成像，但由于复杂的结构和不同的组织类型，周围的解剖结构（包括颅骨，下颌，牙齿，颅神经和主要血管）具有高度的挑战性。虽然常规MRI和CT可以分别提供关于软组织和骨的一些对比信息，但目前不可能同时提供所有组织类型的必要图像。该项目将使用一种独特的MR形式，称为零回波时间（ZTE）成像。ZTE成像的显著优势包括能够检测来自骨骼、牙齿和钙化的信号，改善血管的可视化，以及对磁化率伪影的鲁棒性（1）。因此，中兴通讯提供了一个独特的机会，在一个单一的扫描会话中以综合的方式成像头部和颈部解剖的各个方面，同时避免使用CT扫描中固有的X射线。ZTE的另一个好处是该序列几乎是无声的，从而提高了扫描过程中患者的舒适度（2）。成功的候选人将与专家MRI物理学家和临床医生团队合作，创建适合大脑外部精细解剖结构成像的ZTE检查。他们将设计合适的对比剂制备方案和重建技术，以突出所需的-或抑制无关的-解剖特征。这将需要与临床医生密切合作，以了解多种应用程序的具体需求。该项目将适合在物理，电气工程，生物医学工程或相关学科的背景候选人。

Aim of the PhD Project:Exploit the unique properties of the Zero Echo-Time (ZTE) MRI sequence to accurately visualise cranial anatomy (bone, blood vessels, cranial nerves) that is difficult or impossible with conventional imaging.Demonstrate the clinical benefit of ZTE anatomical imaging for surgical and radiation planning.Project description/background A primary use of medical imaging is planning clinical procedures including surgery or radiation therapy for cancer. As surgical procedures become ever more advanced, medical imaging techniques must keep pace to provide detailed, personalised anatomical information. A particularly demanding example is maxillofacial surgery, which is key in the management of dental pain and debilitating headaches. Although the brain can be imaged in exquisite detail with MRI, the surrounding anatomy including the skull, jaw, teeth, cranial nerves, and major blood vessels is highly challenging due to intricate structures and different tissue types. While conventional MRI and CT can provide some contrasting information about soft tissue and bone respectively, it is not currently possible for either to provide the necessary images of all tissue types simultaneously. This project will utilise a unique form of MR called Zero Echo-Time (ZTE) imaging. Significant advantages of ZTE imaging include the ability to detect signal from bone, teeth & calcifications, improved visualisation of vessels, and robustness to magnetic susceptibility artefacts (1). ZTE hence gives a unique opportunity to image all aspects of anatomy in the head and neck in an integrated way in a single scanning session, while avoiding the use of X-rays inherent in a CT scan. An additional benefit of ZTE is that the sequence is near-silent, thus increasing patient comfort during scanning (2). The successful candidate will work with a team of expert MRI physicists and clinicians to create a ZTE examination suitable for imaging the fine anatomical structures outside of the brain. They will design suitable contrast preparation schemes and reconstruction techniques to highlight desired - or suppress irrelevant - features of anatomy. This will require close collaboration with clinicians to understand the specific needs for multiple applications. The project will suit a candidate with a background in physics, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, or related discipline.