Contoured Array for High Resolution Fetal MRI

描述(申请人提供)：一个长期目标是提高胎儿磁共振(MR)检查的质量。具体地说，将开发定制的射频(RF)胎儿线圈阵列，以实现对胎儿的中枢神经系统(大脑、脊柱)和主要器官(心脏、肺)的高分辨率检查，而不考虑胎儿的方位和怀孕母亲(腹部、骨盆中段和下腰椎)。第一阶段将支持定制体模开发和磁共振量热仪，以研究1.5和3T射频加热对胎儿的影响。所提出的射频线圈样机将在1.5T的体模上进行系统验证。应与目前的身体线圈进行比较，以评估信噪比和一致性。第二阶段将支持西门子1.5T磁共振成像第一阶段原型的人体测试。在人的初步评估的基础上，应对1.51原型进行设计优化。随着第一阶段量热研究的成功，优化将导致3T阵列的设计和开发。这些阵列将在模体上进行系统验证，并在人体评估之前与身体线圈进行比较(在本地IRB下)。此外，第二阶段将涉及使西门子胎儿阵列适应通用电气和飞利浦磁共振成像。该项目将有助于在子宫内无创、不使用电离辐射的可靠、常规的高分辨率胎儿成像。这项拟议的研究如果成功，将有助于在怀孕早期使用MR，并可能有助于父母的咨询和怀孕(包括分娩和分娩)的管理。这对社会的影响是巨大的。这项工作的意义至高无上。我们相信，所有这些都将给人类带来实质性的好处。建议的工作是原创的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A long term goal is to improve the quality of magnetic resonance (MR) examinations of the fetus. Specifically, custom radio-frequency (RF) Fetal Coil Arrays will be developed to permit high-resolution examination of the central nervous system (brain, spine) and major organs (heart, lungs) of the fetus irrespective of its orientation and the pregnant mother (abdomen, mid pelvis and lower lumbar spine). Phase I will support custom phantom development and MR calorimetry to study RF heating effects on the fetus at 1.5 and 3T. The proposed RF coil prototype will be built and systematically verified on phantoms at 1.5T. Comparisons to the present body coil to evaluate signal-to-noise and uniformity shall be made. Phase II will support human testing of the Phase I prototype on a Siemens 1.5T MRI. Based on the preliminary human evaluation, design optimizations shall be made to the 1.51 prototype. The optimization along with the successful Phase I calorimetric studies will lead to the design and development of 3T arrays. These arrays will be systematically verified on phantoms and compared to body coils prior to human evaluations (under local IRB). In addition, Phase 2 will involve adaptating the Siemens Fetal Arrays to GE and Philips MRIs. This project will facilitate reliable, routine high-resolution imaging of the fetus, in-utero non-invasively, without the use of ionizing radiation. The proposed research if successful, will facilitate the use of MR in the early stages of pregnancy and may assist counseling of the parent and management of the pregnancy (including labor and delivery). The societal impact is immense. The significance of this work is paramount. All this we believe will be of a substantial benefit to mankind. The work proposed is original.