Contoured Array for High Resolution Fetal MRI

描述（由申请人提供）：长期目标是提高胎儿磁共振（MR）检查的质量。具体而言，将开发定制射频（RF）胎儿线圈阵列，以允许对胎儿的中枢神经系统（大脑、脊柱）和主要器官（心脏、肺）进行高分辨率检查，而不考虑胎儿的方向和孕妇（腹部、骨盆中部和下腰椎）。第I阶段将支持定制体模开发和MR量热法，以研究1.5 T和3T下射频致热对胎儿的影响。将在1.5T的体模上构建并系统验证申报的射频线圈原型。应与现有体线圈进行比较，以评价信噪比和均匀性。第二阶段将支持在西门子1.5T MRI上对第一阶段原型进行人体测试。根据初步的人的评价，对1.51原型进行设计优化。优化沿着成功的第一阶段量热研究将导致3T阵列的设计和开发。这些阵列将在体模上进行系统验证，并在人体评价之前与体线圈进行比较（根据当地IRB）。此外，第2阶段将涉及使Siemens胎儿阵列适应GE和Philips MRI。该项目将促进可靠的，常规的高分辨率胎儿成像，在子宫内非侵入性，不使用电离辐射。拟议的研究如果成功，将促进在妊娠早期使用MR，并可能有助于父母的咨询和妊娠管理（包括分娩）。社会影响是巨大的。这项工作的重要性是至高无上的。我们相信，所有这些都将给人类带来巨大的利益。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.