Vertical Low Tesla Broadband MRI

描述(由申请人提供)：这是一份共享仪器赠款提案，请求购买具有宽带功能(垂直MRI)的低特斯拉垂直定向开放式磁共振成像系统。垂直成像系统将允许一组NIH研究人员在垂直方向上对肺和骨科结构进行成像，以便在大多数清醒时间经历的重力载荷条件下评估这些系统。磁共振成像的优势在于，它可以在不需要电离辐射的情况下进行成像(如果需要重复研究或调查年轻患者，这一点尤其重要)。此外，无论是在可获得性方面，还是在对有症状(呼吸困难)的患者更容易呼吸方面，垂直开放系统都明显对患者更友好。这种多核系统将允许使用快速质子成像(例如评估隔膜泵)和应用超极化贵气作为造影剂(具有关于微结构和局部肺功能的固有信息)来研究肺部。它的目的是同时研究正常和病理生理条件。这项工作不仅可以评估成像参数，还将为呼吸道流动模拟和应变关系研究提供这些信息，所有这些都可能在疾病发展和新治疗方法的发明中发挥作用。其他身体应用最初将重点放在脊柱和重要的骨科疾病上，包括(但不限于)重力对脊柱侧弯和姿势的影响，以及先天性髋关节发育不良、由于关节对齐而导致的过早骨关节炎等疾病，并研究矫形支架在脊柱侧弯的治疗效果和治疗背部疼痛的物理方法。显然，肌肉骨骼状况受重力的影响很大。然而，对这些现象的研究是出了名的困难和粗糙，主要依靠普通射线照相。MRI的先进成像能力将允许研究软组织(如韧带)和在负荷过程中不同的关节运动。该项目很好地响应了美国国立卫生研究院对生物医学成像和生物工程、转化性研究以及多学科合作需求的新关注。在爱荷华州的研究能力中增加这种设备将大大帮助一组由NIH资助的研究人员，可能会导致一系列多学科合作者之间的进一步互动，同时它还将对爱荷华州大学内的至少三所学院(医学、工程和公共卫生)产生影响。 对公众健康的意义：这项拨款申请是为了获得购买垂直磁共振扫描仪的资金，这将使我们能够在我们不断增长的基于成像的正常人类肺图谱中建立信息，显示正常肺在直立身体姿势下的结构和功能。标准的肺图谱是发现早期异常和了解疾病过程的重要的第一步。对肺部疾病的新干预措施必须在疾病过程的早期阶段开始。所要求的扫描仪还将允许我们在重力加载的情况下评估身体的支撑结构。如果我们要了解骨科相关病理的生物力学性质，评估骨骼系统的满载是至关重要的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This is a shared instrumentation grant proposal requesting the purchase of a low Tesla vertically oriented open magnetic resonance imaging system with broad band capabilities (vertical MRI). A vertical imaging system will allow a group of NIH investigators to image the Lung and Orthopedic structures in a vertical orientation so as to evaluate these systems under the gravity loading conditions experienced during most waking hours. MRI has the advantage that it can perform imaging without the need for ionizing radiation (this is particularly important if repeated studies are required or where young patients are investigated). Furthermore, a vertical open system is significantly more patient friendly, both in terms of accessibility and in terms of easier breathing for symptomatic (dyspnoeic) patients. This multinuclear system will allow studies of the lungs using both fast proton imaging (for instance to assess the diaphragmatic pump) and through the application of hyperpolarized nobles gases as contrast agents (with their inherent information on microstructure and regional lung function). It is intended that both normal and pathophysiological conditions will be studied. The work will not only allow imaging parameters to be assessed, but will also feed this information on airway flow simulations and for study of strain relationships, which all may play a role in disease development as well as for the invention of new therapy approaches. Other body applications will initially focus on spine and significant orthopedic conditions, including (but not limited to) effects of gravity on scoliosis and posture, and such conditions as congenital hip dysplasia, premature osteo-arthritis due to joint mal-alignment and to study therapeutic effects of braces in scoliosis and physical approaches to back pain. Clearly, musculoskeletal conditions are significantly influenced by gravity. However, study of these phenomena is notoriously difficult and crude, mainly relying on plain radiography. The advanced imaging capabilities of MRI will allow study of soft tissues (such as ligaments) and variable joint movements during loading. This project responds very well to the NIH's new focus on biomedical imaging and bioengineering, translational research and the need for multiple disciplines to work together. The addition of this equipment to the research capabilities at Iowa will significantly aid a group of NIH funded researchers, likely leading to further interactions between a multidisciplinary array of collaborators, while it will also have an impact on at least three Colleges within the University of Iowa (Medicine, Engineering, and Public Health). Significance to Public Health: This grant request is seeking to gain funding for the acquisition of a vertical magnetic resonance scanner which will allow us to establish within our growing imaging-based atlas of the normal human lung, information which show how the normal lung is structured and functions in the upright body posture. The normative lung atlas is an important first step in detecting early abnormalities and in understanding disease processes. New interventions to lung disease must start at an early stage of the disease process. The requested scanner will also allow us to evaluate the body's support structure with it loaded by gravity. It is critical to evaluate the skeletal system fully loaded if we are to understand the biomechanical nature of orthopedic-related pathology.