High-Sensitivity Flexible MRI Coils via Printed Electronics

描述(由申请人提供)：这项提案旨在将印刷大面积电子学的新领域引入，以创建印刷在布状网状基板上的灵活、符合要求的核磁共振线圈。这些柔性线圈可适应患者的各种尺寸，并可缠绕在附件上。打印阵列可以量身定做服装，改善医院工作流程，方便患者准备。没有分立组件的薄印刷线圈也可能集成到其他系统中，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一接收器更高的信噪比(SNR)。这种超高的SNR经常被用来换取更高的分辨率或更快的采集。然而，较差的匹配会抵消该阵列的SNR增益。今天大多数线圈阵列都是刚性或半刚性结构，并且是一刀切的，而患者则有各种大小和形状。事实上，经常会看到线圈元素偏离解剖结构，以至于线圈的填充系数很差。这一问题在儿科成像中加剧，在脚踝、膝盖、颈部和肩部等成人肢体周围也是如此。适合于复杂身体解剖的保形线圈可以带来显著的SNR增益-表面上的SNR比标准刚性线圈高达2倍或3倍。除了信噪比提高外，油墨印刷MRI线圈和集成调谐设备还将减少焊料/环氧连接的数量，提高柔性线圈的长期可靠性。最后，新材料将实现线圈在其他应用中的定制集成，例如磁共振引导的干预。方法：最近，印刷电子学领域在直接在各种柔性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打印技术来打印基材。我们的计划是在这些工艺上进行创新，制造出高灵敏度的柔性磁共振线圈。在目标1中，我们将开发一系列与MRI兼容的电子元件，用于设计谐振接收器线圈。具体地说，我们将开发使用导电、绝缘和半导体油墨的非磁性印刷线圈导体、电感、电容器、二极管和薄膜晶体管。这些部件将被制造在各种网状织物基板上。我们将从电气和机械两方面测试、表征和验证设备的性能。在目标2中，我们将制作用于1.5T和3T质子共振的独立调谐表面线圈。在目标1和目标2的基础上，我们将在目标3中设计一个婴儿尺寸的4通道线圈阵列原型，并对阵列的机械耐久性、谐振耦合和图像质量进行测试。摘要：该研究计划完成后，将为制造高灵敏度柔性线圈阵列提供一套独特的电子材料。因此，性价比高的定制硬件将为更多的患者提供更好的成像性能。这项研究将影响可穿戴医疗设备的新兴应用，并为将薄磁共振线圈与其他成像方式相结合提供机会。

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.