9.4T MR Instrument Console Upgrade

描述(申请人提供)：磁共振(MR)仪器为许多生物医学研究人员提供了关键的非侵入性成像工具。现有的9.4-T、31厘米口径磁共振系统是从瓦里安公司(加利福尼亚州帕洛阿尔托)获得的，并于2003年2月交付，该系统由NCRR首批高端仪器赠款机制之一(S10 RR17239)于2002年提供资金。这项提议的目的是将连接到我们的9.4-T磁共振仪器的模拟控制台升级为基于数字的控制台，以便更好地执行匹兹堡大学的高分辨率动物研究。这将增强现有9.4-T磁共振控制台在体内功能和生理研究以及解剖学和病理学研究中的实用性。2005年，我们要求的基于数字的DirectDrive(R)控制台被替换为基于模拟的INOVA(R)控制台，INOVA(R)控制台是我们当前9.4-T系统的一部分。我们目前的控制台必须由装有Unix操作系统的Sun工作站驱动，该操作系统已被Sun Microsystems停产，而新的基于数字的控制台由一台安装了基于Linux的操作软件的个人计算机控制。因此，拟议的控制台升级对于保持9.4-T磁共振仪器作为最先进系统的关键，以便研究人员可以继续取得成功。所要求的数字DirectDrive(注册商标)瓦里安控制台已经完全重新设计，并对我们目前基于模拟的瓦里安控制台进行了几项重大改进。所要求的控制台有四个质子发射器板、一个X核发射器板和四个接收器，允许并行成像能力。所要求的控制台有一个采样频率为80 MHz的数字接收器、一个集成的16位梯度控制器、数字射频脉冲功能，以及一个增加的标准脉冲序列库。所要求的控制台升级将保持NIH资助的9.4-T磁共振系统作为最先进的设备，这对匹兹堡正在进行的和未来的生物医学成像项目至关重要。 公共卫生相关性：高场磁共振仪器对于进行体内功能和生理研究以及解剖学和病理学研究至关重要。所要求的控制台升级将对基础和临床前生物医学研究产生影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Magnetic resonance (MR) instruments provide critical noninvasive imaging tools to many biomedical researchers. The existing 9.4-T, 31-cm bore MR system, which was funded by one of the first NCRR High-End Instrumentation grant mechanisms (S10 RR17239) in 2002, was obtained from Varian Inc. (Palo Alto, CA), and delivered in February 2003. The aim of this proposal is to upgrade the analog console interfaced to our 9.4-T MR instrument with a digital-based console to better perform high-resolution animal studies at the University of Pittsburgh. This will enhance the utility of the existing 9.4-T MR console for in vivo functional and physiological studies, as well as for anatomical and pathological research. The requested digital-based DirectDrive(R) console was replaced to the analog-based INOVA(R) console, which is part of our current 9.4-T system, in 2005. Our current console must be driven by a Sun workstation with Unix operating system, which has been discontinued by Sun Microsystems, while the new digital-based console is controlled by a personal computer with Linux- based operating software. Thus, the proposed console upgrade is critical for maintaining the 9.4-T MR instrument as a state-of-the-art system in order that researchers may continue to be successful. The requested digital DirectDrive(R) Varian console has been totally redesigned and offers several major improvements over our current analog-based Varian console. The requested console has four transmitter boards for proton, one transmitter board for X-nuclei, and 4 receivers, allowing parallel imaging capabilities. The requested console has a digital receiver with 80 MHz sampling frequency, an integrated 16-bit gradient controller, digital RF pulse features, and an increased library of standard pulse sequences. The requested console upgrade will maintain the NIH-funded 9.4-T MR system as state-of-the-art equipment, which is crucial for ongoing and future biomedical imaging projects in Pittsburgh. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: High-field magnetic resonance instrument is critically important to perform in vivo functional and physiological studies, as well as for anatomical and pathological research. The requested console upgrade will make impacts to basic and pre-clinical biomedical research.