Enhancement of Sensitivity in the MRI of Hyperpolarised Noble Gases

超极化(HP)惰性气体(~3He和~(129)Xe)的磁共振成像在肺的成像方面有很大的应用前景。气体原子的激光超极化(通过光泵)为肺部的气体核磁共振提供了充足的信号。到目前为止，申请者与3He一起开展的方法学工作已经在国际上建立了谢菲尔德大学，在HP GAS MRI领域。本项目将在谢菲尔德进行，主要目的是：1.研究磁场强度对高压气体磁共振成像的影响。这将使用一个专门的0.2T的肺部成像系统，旨在为直立位置的肺部成像，目前正在使用的1.5T全身核磁共振扫描仪和一个新的3T全身核磁共振系统。这项工作将有助于国际HP GAS MRI研究界和MR制造商确定执行这一令人兴奋的新功能肺成像方法的气体和磁场强度的最佳配置。2.高压气体并行成像脉冲序列和射频硬件的研制这些方法将有助于通过优化偏振使用来减少成像所需的气体量。如果HP气体MRI要广泛应用于临床实践，这一点很重要，因为这些气体是昂贵的、有限的资源。3.将功能扩展到HP 129Xe的MRI，并进行实验以研究这两种气体在肺中的核磁共振物理，并确定其对肺功能成像的潜在敏感性。最终目标是开发一种技术，以尽可能高的空间分辨率量化肺功能，而不使用目前临床标准肺成像/CT和核闪烁成像中使用的有害电离辐射。它在生物医学、物理科学和工业研究中的潜在应用是众多的。该项目将涉及与该地区的世界领先实验室和行业的多种合作，并将有助于加强现有的国际跨学科合作[www.Phil.ens.fr]。这一享有盛誉的奖项将使申请者能够专注于他的研究专长领域，并将有助于巩固谢菲尔德和英国在该领域国际研究的前沿。

MRI of hyperpolarised (HP) noble gases (3He and 129Xe) shows much promise for imaging ventilation in lungs. Laser hyperpolarisation of gas atoms (with optical pumping) provides ample signal for gas MRI in the lungs. The methodological work carried out to date by the applicant with 3He, has established the University of Sheffield internationally in the area of HP gas MRI. The principle aims of this project, which will be carried out in Sheffield are: 1. Study the effects of magnetic field strength in HP gas MRI. This will make use of a dedicated lung imaging system operating at 0.2 T designed to image the lungs in the upright position, the 1.5 T whole body MRI scanner currently in use and a new 3 T whole body MRI system. The work would be of benefit to the international HP gas MRI research community and MR manufacturers in helping determine the optimum configuration of gas and field strength for performing this exciting new method of functional lung imaging. 2. Development of pulse sequences and radio frequency hardware for parallel imaging with HP gases. These methods will help reduce the amounts of gas needed for imaging through optimisation of polarisation usage. This is important if HP gas MRI is to become widely used in clinical practice since these gases are expensive limited resources. 3. Extend capability to the MRI of HP 129Xe and perform experiments to investigate the NMR physics of the two gases in the lung and to determine their potential sensitivity for functional lung imaging. The ultimate goal is to develop the technology to quantify lung function with as high spatial resolution as possible without the use of harmful ionising radiation as is currently used in the clinical standard lung imaging modalities / CT and nuclear scintigraphy. The potential applications in biomedicine, physical science and industrial research are numerous. The project will involve multiple collaborations with world leqading laboratories and industry working in the area and will help strengthen existing international inter-disciplinary collaborations [www.phil.ens.fr]. This prestigous award would allow the applicant to focus on his area of research expertise and will help consolidate Sheffield and the UK at the forefront of international research in this field..