Upright Open MRI Upgrade for Biomechanics Research

用于生物力学研究的直立式开放式 MRI 升级

• 批准号: RTI-2020-00384
• 负责人: Wilson, David
• 金额: $ 10.83万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=693645
• 关键词: Upright; Open; MRI; Upgrade; Biomechanics

The applicants lead research programs that investigate human biomechanics using the unique capabilities of the upright open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner (MROpen, Paramed, Genoa, Italy) at UBC's Centre for Hip Health and Mobility (CHHM). MRI is a very important research tool in biomechanics because it provides high-resolution images of both soft tissues (e.g. muscle, ligament, cartilage) and hard tissues (bone) with almost no risk to the participant. What sets this MRI scanner apart from others is that its “open” geometry allows us to obtain these images in functional positions, which makes the MROpen an ideal tool for biomechanics research. ******With this unique capability, we are using the MROpen: 1) To develop methods to assess cartilage mechanics (eg strain, stiffness) noninvasively using imaging. Our rationale is that the most important measures of cartilage mechanics (eg strain) cannot be measured in living people, and that development of these tools would open up many new pathways of research in biomechanics. 2) To understand the mechanical function of anatomical structures during speech and swallowing. The unique capability of the MROpen scanner to image patients when upright is being used to determine whether gravity plays a significant role in which muscles are active during speech articulation and swallowing in normal adult speakers and swallowers. 3) To assess the effect of posture on spine muscle biomechanics and use these findings to develop a biomechanical model of the spine for preoperative planning. These programs are led by 3 senior biomechanics researchers with international profiles in joint biomechanics, speech/swallowing, and spine biomechanics. ******It is essential to our planned research programs that we add functionality to the Upright Open MRI scanner by implementing two newly-released upgrades. The first upgrade is fundamental to all of our research programs: a new spectrometer and software package that will give us the imaging speed and flexibility required to perform weight-bearing scans with limited motion artefact and participant fatigue. This is required to enable the new sequences we need for cartilage imaging, the multi-channel capability required for dynamic scans in speech and swallowing, and the 3D environment required to assess spine muscles in true cross-sectional area. The second upgrade, an upright package including a new spine coil with full spine coverage and an integrated flat participant bed/upright positioning tool designed to allow stable upright positioning, is essential to our proposed studies in weightbearing postures. This is required to limit motion artefact in all of our upright images, allow positioning of coils to achieve the image quality we require, and to allow imaging of the whole spine. ******Each of the associated programs of research will provide hands-on training to a diverse group of HQP, primarily Master's and PhD students and Postdoctoral fellows.*****

申请人领导的研究项目利用 UBC 髋关节健康和活动中心 (CHHM) 的直立式开放式磁共振成像 (MRI) 扫描仪（MROpen，Paramed，热那亚，意大利）的独特功能来研究人体生物力学。 MRI 是生物力学中非常重要的研究工具，因为它提供软组织（例如肌肉、韧带、软骨）和硬组织（骨骼）的高分辨率图像，对参与者几乎没有风险。这款 MRI 扫描仪与其他扫描仪的不同之处在于，其“开放”几何结构使我们能够在功能位置获取这些图像，这使得 MROpen 成为生物力学研究的理想工具。 ******凭借这种独特的功能，我们正在使用 MROpen： 1) 开发使用成像无创评估软骨力学（例如应变、刚度）的方法。 我们的理由是，软骨力学最重要的测量（例如应变）无法在活人中测量，而这些工具的开发将为生物力学研究开辟许多新途径。 2）了解说话和吞咽过程中解剖结构的机械功能。 MROpen 扫描仪具有在患者直立时对患者进行成像的独特功能，可用于确定重力是否在正常成人说话者和吞咽者的言语发音和吞咽过程中肌肉活动中发挥重要作用。 3) 评估姿势对脊柱肌肉生物力学的影响，并利用这些发现开发脊柱生物力学模型，用于术前规划。 这些项目由 3 名在关节生物力学、言语/吞咽和脊柱生物力学方面具有国际背景的高级生物力学研究人员领导。 ******通过实施两项新发布的升级，为 Upright Open MRI 扫描仪添加功能，这对我们计划的研究项目至关重要。 第一次升级是我们所有研究项目的基础：新的光谱仪和软件包将为我们提供在有限运动伪影和参与者疲劳情况下执行负重扫描所需的成像速度和灵活性。这是实现软骨成像所需的新序列、言语和吞咽动态扫描所需的多通道功能以及评估真实横截面区域中的脊柱肌肉所需的 3D 环境所必需的。第二个升级是一个直立包，包括一个完全覆盖脊柱的新脊柱线圈和一个集成的平坦参与者床/直立定位工具，旨在实现稳定的直立定位，这对于我们提出的负重姿势研究至关重要。这是限制我们所有直立图像中的运动伪影、允许定位线圈以获得我们所需的图像质量以及允许对整个脊柱进行成像所必需的。 ******每个相关的研究项目都将为不同的 HQP 群体（主要是硕士和博士生以及博士后研究员）提供实践培训。*****