High-Sensitivity Flexible MRI Coils via Printed Electronics

描述（由申请人提供）：该提案旨在引入印刷大面积电子器件的新领域，以创建印刷在布状网状基底上的柔性、符合要求的MRI线圈。这些柔性线圈将适合各种患者体型，并缠绕在附件周围。打印阵列可以定制成服装，改善医院的工作流程，简化患者准备工作。没有分立元件的薄印刷线圈也可以潜在地集成到其他系统中，例如MR引导的高强度聚焦超声，MR-PET和X射线MR。相关性：MRI接收线圈阵列提供比标准单个接收器更高的信噪比（SNR）。这种过量的SNR通常被用来换取更高的分辨率或更快的采集。但是，拟合不佳会抵消阵列的SNR增益。如今，大多数线圈阵列都具有刚性或半刚性结构，并且是一刀切的，而患者的尺寸和形状多种多样。事实上，通常会看到线圈元件偏离解剖结构，以至于线圈具有较差的填充因子。这个问题在儿科成像中加剧，并且还在成人四肢周围，例如脚踝、膝盖、颈部和肩部。与复杂的身体解剖结构配合良好的适形线圈可以带来显著的SNR增益-表面上的SNR增益高达标准刚性线圈的2倍或3倍。除了SNR增益，油墨印刷MRI线圈和集成调谐器件将减少焊料/环氧树脂连接的数量，提高柔性线圈的长期可靠性。最后，新材料将使定制的线圈集成在其他应用中，如MR引导介入。方法：最近，印刷电子领域在直接在各种柔性基板上制造高精度电子元件方面取得了突破性进展。 通过使用基于油墨的印刷技术在基底上印刷。我们的计划是在这些工艺上进行创新，制造高灵敏度的柔性MRI线圈。在目标1中，我们将开发一系列MRI兼容电子元件，用于设计谐振接收器线圈。具体来说，我们将开发非磁性印刷线圈导体，电感器，电容器，二极管和薄膜晶体管使用导电，绝缘和半导体油墨。这些组件将被制造到各种网状织物基材上。我们将测试、表征和验证设备的电气和机械性能。在目标2中，我们将制作用于1.5T和3 T质子共振的独立调谐表面线圈。根据目标1和目标2的结果，我们将在目标3中设计一个婴儿大小的4通道线圈阵列原型。将对阵列进行机械耐久性、共振耦合和图像质量测试。总结：完成后，拟议的研究计划将提供一套独特的电子材料，用于制造高灵敏度的柔性线圈阵列。因此，具有成本效益的定制设计的硬件，以提高成像性能将提供给广泛的患者。这项研究将影响可穿戴医疗设备中的新兴应用，并为将薄MRI线圈与其他成像方式集成提供机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal aims to bring the new field of printed large-area electronics to create flexible, conforming MRI coils printed on clothlike mesh substrates. These flexible coils will fit range of patient sizes and wrap around appendages. Printed arrays can be tailored into garments, improving hospital workflow and easing patient preparation. Thin printed coils, without discrete components, can also potentially be integrated into other systems such as MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound, MR-PET and X-ray MR. Relevance: MRI receive coil arrays provide increased signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) over standard single receivers. This excess SNR is often traded for either higher resolution or faster acquisitions. However, a poor fit negates the array's SNR gains. Most coil arrays today have a rigid or semi-rigid structure and are one-size- fits-all, whereas patients come in a variety of sizs and shapes. In fact, it is common to see coil elements offset from the anatomy to the point that the coils have poor fill-factor. This problem is exacerbated in pediatric imaging, and also around adult extremities such as ankles, knees, neck and shoulders. A conformal coil that fits well to convoluted body anatomy can lead to significant SNR gains - as high as 2x or 3x on the surface over standard rigid coils. In addition to SNR gain, ink-printed MRI coils and integrated tuning devices will reduce the number of solder/epoxy connections, improving long-term reliability of flexible coils. Finally, new materials will enable tailored integration of coils in other applicatins such as MR-guided interventions. Approach: Recently, the field of printed electronics has made breakthroughs in fabricating high-precision electronic components directly on a variety of flexible substrates by using ink-based printing techniques. Our plan is to innovate on these processes and fabricate high-sensitivity flexible MRI coils. In Aim 1, we will develop a family of MRI-compatible electronic components for designing resonant receiver coils. Specifically, we will develop non-magnetic printed coil conductors, inductors, capacitors, diodes, and thin-film transistors using conductive, insulating and semiconducting inks. These components will be fabricated onto various mesh-type fabric substrates. We will test, characterize, and validate device performance, both electrically and mechanically. In Aim 2, we will fabricate stand-alone tuned surface coils for 1.5 T and 3 T proton resonance. Based on the results from Aim 1 and Aim 2 efforts, we will design a prototype infant-sized 4-channel coil array in Aim 3. The array wil be tested for mechanical durability, resonant coupling and image quality. Summary: When completed, the proposed research program will provide a unique set of electronic materials for fabricating high-sensitivity flexible coil arrays. As a result, cost-effective custom-designed hardware for improved imaging performance will be available to a broad range of patients. This research will impact emerging applications in wearable medical devices and provide opportunities for integrating thin MRI coils with other imaging modalities.