A Self-Tuning Liquid Metal Coil Conforming to Movement for High-Resolution Brachial Plexus MRI

项目总结 臂丛(BP)的异常，即臂丛病变，可导致深刻的功能性， 心理和经济后果。专门的周围神经核磁共振或磁共振神经成像(MRN)是一种 评估臂丛病变的体检和电诊断测试的重要辅助手段，以及 影响临床决策，包括手术计划和结果。MRN提供了直接的可视化 单个神经及其与骨和软组织结构的关系，但空间不足 分辨率(~1.0 mm-各向同性)是由于信噪比(SNR)较低造成的。这在很大程度上是由于 颈肩交界处的凹面解剖，使常规MRI线圈不能接近 皮肤。BP固有的、复杂的分支和交织的解剖结构需要更高的空间分辨率 (~0.5 mm-各向同性)，比目前的射频(RF)线圈可能的性能更好。当前的射频线圈要么是刚性的，要么不是 有足够的柔韧性，与颈部、肩部和腋部的弧度不一致。 我们将开发新颖、无毒、坚固的液态金属射频线圈技术，以使设计 保形灵活的Neck-BP阵列。这种设计将确保线圈元件符合车身轮廓(至 最大限度地提高信噪比)，并且手臂处于不同的位置。可弯曲和可弯曲的特点 适合形状的延伸性在液态金属技术中是可行的，但这项技术以前从未出现过 商业化实施。本项目提出了一种专用射频线圈阵列的设计和建造，以用于 臂丛MRN，为患者提供更高的空间分辨率和3D成像，具有前所未有的细节 临床疑似胸廓出口综合征(TOS)。我们将系统地评估液态金属线圈 对照BP MRN的标准线圈。我们假设可达到的空间分辨率为~0.5毫米 各向同性，大于目前商业线圈实现的~1 mm各向同性，因此将更好 描绘局部解剖和病理学。 影响：拟议的研究不仅将解决TOS问题，还将促进对(1)其他臂的评估 多发性神经病和更多的外周神经病(例如创伤性、炎症性、医源性)，以及(2) 其他复杂/弯曲的解剖结构，包括乳房/胸壁区域、会阴/腹股沟区域和手指。这 技术还将促进肢体的动态成像，以阐明病理，如 髋臼撞击(髋关节)、韧带松弛(多关节)和半月板功能不全(膝盖) 常规的静态核磁共振证实了这一点。

PROJECT SUMMARY Abnormality of the brachial plexus (BP), i.e. brachial plexopathy, can result in profound functional, psychological and economic consequences. Dedicated peripheral nerve MRI, or MR neurography (MRN), is an important adjunct to the physical exam and electrodiagnostic testing to evaluate brachial plexopathies, and influences clinically decision making, including surgical planning, and outcomes. MRN affords direct visualization of individual nerves and their relationship to osseus and soft tissue structures but suffers from insufficient spatial resolution (~1.0mm-isotropic) resulting from poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). This is largely due to the inherently concave anatomy of the neck-shoulder junction that precludes close proximity of conventional MRI coils to the skin. The inherent, complex branching and intertwining anatomy of the BP requires higher spatial resolution (~0.5 mm-isotropic) than possible with current radiofrequency (RF) coils. Current RF coils are either rigid or not adequately flexible, and do not conform to the curvatures of the neck, shoulder and axillary regions. We will develop novel, non-toxic, robust liquid metal RF coil technology to enable the design of a conformal and flexible neck-BP array. This design will ensure that coil elements conform to the body contour (to maximize SNR) in their entirety and with the arm in different positions. The characteristics of bendability and form-fitting stretchability are feasible with liquid metal technology, but this technology has not been previously implemented commercially. This project proposes the design and construction of a dedicated RF coil array for brachial plexus MRN, to enable higher spatial-resolution and 3D imaging, with unprecedented detail, in patients with clinically suspected thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). We will systematically evaluate liquid metal coils against standard coils for BP MRN. We hypothesize that the achievable spatial resolution will be ~0.5 mm isotropic, greater than the ~1 mm isotropic currently achieved with commercial coils, and will therefore better depict regional anatomy and pathology. Impact: The proposed research will not only address TOS but will also facilitate evaluation of (1) other brachial plexopathies and more peripheral neuropathies (of traumatic, inflammatory, iatrogenic etiologies, e.g.), and (2) other complex/curved anatomies including the breast/chest wall region, perineal/groin region, and digits. This technology would also facilitate dynamic imaging of the extremities to elucidate pathology such as femoroacetabular impingement (hip), ligamentous laxity (multiple joints), and meniscal incompetence (knee), not borne out with conventional, static MRI.