Request for Purchase of High-Performance MRI System for in-vivo Rodent Imaging

 描述(由申请人提供)： 这项提案要求为用于活体啮齿动物成像的紧凑、高性能磁共振成像(MRI)系统提供资金。啮齿动物是生物医学研究中最常用的实验动物。然而，退伍军人管理局旧金山没有啮齿类动物的磁共振成像能力。目前，由于缺乏高分辨率的啮齿动物核磁共振系统，需要监测活体大鼠或小鼠内部结构和生理功能的项目受到阻碍。因此，购买啮齿动物核磁共振系统将满足退伍军人事务部多个研究项目的迫切需求。8个主要用户和4个次要用户组成了第一批表示迫切需要这一工具的调查人员。这些研究人员在癌症、心血管、肌肉骨骼、肾病和神经科学的不同研究领域进行研究。高性能的啮齿动物核磁共振系统将使多种体内参数的精确测量成为可能。例如，监测：*肿瘤的位置、质量和形状*小鼠脑和神经中的缺血区*心脏的所有四个腔的心脏结构、心室容量和收缩功能以及是否存在缺血性损伤*骨骼肌块和缺血性损伤*关节、肌腱和骨骼的完整性。血管成像。*肾脏结构和损害因此，啮齿动物核磁共振系统将有助于研究与退伍军人健康至关重要的几个调查领域的多个项目。这些项目涉及探索治疗脑损伤、癌症、心脏病、肌肉骨骼损伤、骨科疾病和肾功能衰竭的新疗法。这些疾病与退伍军人患者群体高度相关。所要求的仪器是布鲁克图标核磁共振系统。这是一种价格相对较低的MRI系统，具有两个创新和重大的技术优势：首先，Bruker ICON MRI系统使用的是紧凑型永久磁体，而不是传统的超导MRI磁体。因此，永磁体不需要用冷冻剂冷却。因此，不需要与传统超导磁体相关的大量成本和维护。该系统没有持续的维护要求。它不包含需要定期更换或补充的部件。其次，Bruker ICON核磁共振系统使用自屏蔽永久磁体，因此不需要额外的外屏蔽。该磁体在磁体外部具有可忽略的磁场条纹场。因此，紧凑型磁体可以被安置在常规的实验室空间中，而不需要单独的屏蔽位置。此外，Bruker ICON系统不需要传统MRI系统必须使用的MRI安全协议。总而言之，购买啮齿动物核磁共振系统将满足一个重要的研究需求，并将极大地帮助多个领域的许多研究项目，这些领域涵盖对退伍军人患者群体非常重要的疾病。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests funding for a Compact, High-Performance Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) System for in-vivo Rodent Imaging. Rodents are the most commonly used experimental animals in biomedical research. However, the VA San Francisco does not have rodent MRI imaging capability. Currently, projects that need to monitor internal structures and physiological functions within living rats or mice are hampered by the lack of a high-resolution rodent MRI system. Therefore, acquisition of a rodent MRI system will fulfill a critical need for multiple research projects at the VA SF. Eight major users and four minor users compose the first cohort of investigators who have expressed a critical need for this instrument. These investigators perform research in diverse research areas of Cancer, Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal, Nephrology and Neuroscience. A high performance rodent MRI system will make possible precise measurements of multiple in- vivo parameters. For example, monitoring of: * Tumor location, mass, and shape * Ischemic regions in mouse brain and nerves * Cardiac structure, ventricular volumes and contractile function of all 4 chambers of the heart and the presence of ischemic injury * Skeletal muscle mass and ischemic injury * Integrity of joints, tendons and bone. Vascular imaging. * Kidney structure and damage Therefore, a rodent MRI system will aid the research of multiple projects in several areas of investigation that are critically relevan to veteran's health. These projects involve exploration of new therapies to treat brain injury, cancer, heart disease, musculoskeletal injury, orthopedic diseases, and renal failure. These diseases are highly relevant to the veteran patient population. The instrument requested is a Bruker ICON MRI system. This is a relatively low priced MRI system that has two innovative and significant technical advantages: First, the Bruker ICON MRI system uses a compact permanent magnet rather than a traditional superconducting MRI magnet. Therefore, the permanent magnet does not require cooling with cryogens. Accordingly, the significant costs and maintenance associated with a traditional superconducting magnet are not required. This system has no ongoing maintenance requirements. It does not contain parts that need regular replacement or replenishing. Second, the Bruker ICON MRI system uses a self-shielded permanent magnet, and therefore does not require additional external shielding. The magnet has negligible magnetic fringe fields outside of the magnet. Thus, the compact magnet can be housed in regular laboratory space and does not require a separate shielded location. Furthermore, the Bruker ICON system does not require MRI safety protocols that must be used with a traditional MRI system. In summary, acquisition of a rodent MRI system will address a significant research need, and will greatly aid many research projects in multiple fields covering diseases that are highly significant to the veteran patient population.