A Low Cost Clinically Relevant 7T MRI Magnet

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案旨在证明设计和建造一种新型的7T磁体的可行性，该磁体比基于传统技术的磁体更小、更轻、成本更低。这种针对神经科学的磁铁内径为680毫米，可以安装在标准的临床磁共振套件中，用于对人类以及大型动物(如灵长类动物和猪)的磁共振研究。高场MR提供了低场不可用的数据。应用包括解剖、代谢和分子成像、功能和扩散成像以及光谱学。各种新颖的、高速的和增强对比度的技术已经被开发出来，而特定的高场临床应用是可以预期的。高场磁共振平台的获取和传播都受到其非常高的成本和苛刻的选址要求的阻碍。仅磁铁一项就可以占系统总成本的80%以上，因此是降低成本的最重要目标。在成本和性能优化方面，传统的磁体技术已经达到了极限，因此进一步的发展必须依赖于使用新型超导体、增强技术和最先进的磁体设计技术。这样的技术飞跃尚未实现，部分原因是缺乏这样的新技术，但也是因为磁铁行业的竞争对手数量较少。斯特恩磁力有限责任公司成功地展示了内部增强超导导线的高性能，增强了支持高场大口径磁体中存在的高应力的能力。它还展示了为利用这些新型导线的特定特性而开发的高度优化的磁铁设计。这项技术是斯特恩的专利和专有技术，除了降低成本外，还允许显著缩短磁铁孔。如果这项提案被选中并成功完成，随后的第二阶段将解决工程和制造第一个紧凑型、屏蔽的7T磁体和短直径680毫米室温内孔的问题。目前美国还没有高场磁共振磁体制造商，该项目的成功可以建立美国第一家先进技术的高场磁共振磁体制造商。更便宜、更紧凑的高场磁共振平台的商业化供应将深化和加快对人类疾病的研究。作为一个额外的好处，这也可以成为一种使更实用和负担得起的临床扫描仪在3T下运行的技术。最后，这项建议也与美国国立卫生研究院根据行政命令13329所规定的“鼓励制造业创新”的目标很好地结合在一起。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal aims at demonstrating the feasibility of designing and constructing a novel 7 T MR magnet that is significantly smaller, lighter and less costly than magnets based on conventional technologies. This neuro- science targeted magnet has an internal diameter of 680 mm and can be installed in a standard clinical MR suite and used for MR studies on humans as well as large animals, such as primates and pigs. High field MR provides data that are not available at lower fields. Applications encompass anatomical, metabolic and molecular imaging, functional and diffusion imaging, and spectroscopy. A variety of novel, high- speed and enhanced-contrast techniques has already been developed, while specific high-field clinical applications can be anticipated. Both access to, and dissemination of, high field MR platforms are impeded by their very high cost and demanding siting requirements. The magnet alone can represent over 80% of the total system cost, thereby representing the most important target for cost reduction. In terms of cost and optimization of performance traditional magnet technologies have reached their limits, so further advances must depend on using novel superconductors, reinforcement technology and the most sophisticated magnet design techniques. Such a technological leap has not yet been taken, partly due to the lack of such novel technologies, but also because of the small number of competitors in the magnet business. Stern Magnetics, LLC has successfully demonstrated the high performance of internally reinforced super- conducting wire with enhanced capability for supporting the high stresses present in high-field large bore magnets. It has also demonstrated highly optimized magnet designs developed to take advantage of the specific characteristics of these novel wires. This technology is patented and proprietary to Stern and, besides lowering costs, also allows significantly shorter magnet bores. Should this proposal be selected for funding and successfully completed, the subsequent Phase II will address engineering and manufacturing the first compact, shielded, 7 T magnet with a short, 680 mm diameter room- temperature bore. Currently there are no manufacturers of high-field MRI magnets in the US and success of this program can establish the first US-based manufacturer of advanced technology high-field MRI magnets. The commercial availability of cheaper and more compact high-field MR platforms will deepen and accelerate research into human disease. As an added benefit, this can also become an enabling technology for more practical and affordable clinical scanners operating at 3 T. Finally, this proposal is also well aligned with NIH's goal of "encouraging innovation in manufacturing", per Executive Order 13329.