High Resolution Neuro-MRI

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目将开发和制造一种逼真的床旁神经MRI扫描仪，该扫描仪具有专门设计用于基于现代低成本磁体对人脑和颈椎进行成像的新型架构，其特点是易于操作且运营成本低。一旦扫描仪的功能被证明，扫描仪可以用来成像头部的其他部分，除了大脑。此外，我们提出的扫描仪有一个通孔，允许对大部分公众进行全身扫描，并为农村地区和服务不足地区的公众提供MRI扫描。我们打算开发的扫描仪将在任何有电的地方工作。 公共卫生相关性：根据NIH/NIBIB网站，“迫切需要为经历中风和头部损伤等神经系统紧急情况的患者开发改进和快速的诊断信息。“NIBIB将低成本成像列为需要即时技术开发的四个领域之一。该计划将开发和制造一种逼真的床旁神经MRI扫描仪，该扫描仪具有专门设计用于基于现代低成本磁体对人脑和颈椎进行成像的新型架构，其特点是易于操作和低运营成本。我们认为这种B 0磁体是现实的原因是：i）在第一阶段的工作中，我们证明了这种磁体的所有关键元件，ii）整个B 0磁体及其制冷机和压缩机的重量小于500 kg，iii）所提出的无制冷剂MRI磁体的开发基于经过验证的可靠的低温超导体，而不是正在开发的超导体。我们的技术现在就在这里。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This program will develop and manufacture a realistic Point-of-Care Neurological MRIScanner with a novel architecture specifically designed for imaging a human brain and C-spine based on a modern low cost magnet, which features ease of operation and low operating cost. Once the functionality of the scanner is demonstrated, the scanner can be used to image other parts of the head in addition to the brain. Also, the scanner that we propose has a through bore and allows whole-body scanning on a large fraction of the human public and offers MRI scans to the public in the rural locations as well as under-served areas. The scanner we intend to develop will work wherever there can be electricity. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: According to NIH/NIBIB website, "There is a critical need for developing improved and rapid diagnostic information for patients experiencing neurological emergencies such as stroke and head injury." NIBIB lists low-cost imaging as one of the four areas that are in need of Point-of-Care technology development. This program will develop and manufacture a realistic Point-of-Care Neurological MRI Scanner with a novel architecture specifically designed for imaging a human brain and C-spine based on a modern low cost magnet, which features ease of operation and low operating cost. The reasons we refer to this B0 magnet as realistic are: i) In the Phase I work we demonstrated all the key elements of such a magnet, ii) the entire B0 magnet with its cryocooler and compressor weighs less than 500 kg, and iii) development of the proposed cryogen-free MRI magnet is based on proven and reliable low temperature superconductors, and not on superconductors that have been under development. Our technology is here now.