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

项目摘要 臂丛神经（BP）的异常，即臂丛神经病，可导致严重的功能性， 心理和经济后果。专用外周神经MRI或MR神经成像（MRN）是一种 是体格检查和电诊断测试的重要辅助手段，用于评估臂丛神经病变，以及 影响临床决策，包括手术计划和结果。MRN提供直接可视化 个别神经及其与骨和软组织结构的关系，但患有空间不足 分辨率（~ 1.0mm-各向同性）由差的信噪比（SNR）导致。这在很大程度上是由于 颈肩交界处的凹形解剖结构，这使得传统MRI线圈无法靠近 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）。当前的RF线圈要么是刚性的，要么不是 足够柔韧，并且不符合颈部、肩部和腋窝区域的曲率。 我们将开发新型、无毒、坚固的液态金属射频线圈技术， 共形和柔性颈BP阵列。这种设计将确保线圈元件符合身体轮廓（以 最大化SNR），并且臂处于不同位置。可弯曲性和 形状配合的拉伸性是可行的液态金属技术，但这种技术还没有以前 商业化实施。该项目提出了一个专用的射频线圈阵列的设计和建设， 臂丛神经MRN，使患者获得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 与BP MRN的标准线圈进行比较。我们假设可实现的空间分辨率为~0.5 mm 各向同性，大于目前商业线圈实现的~1 mm各向同性，因此将更好地 描绘局部解剖和病理。 影响：拟议的研究不仅将解决TOS，还将促进（1）其他肱动脉 神经丛病变和更多的周围神经病变（例如创伤性、炎症性、医源性病因），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 技术还将促进四肢的动态成像，以阐明病理学， 股骨髋臼撞击（髋关节）、韧带松弛（多关节）和股骨功能不全（膝关节）， 用常规的静态核磁共振成像证实了这一点。

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.