Development of tracer gas lung MRI approaches using inert fluorinated gases

磁共振成像（MRI）是一种医学成像技术，可以在不使用x射线或其他有害辐射的情况下在体内拍照。一般来说，核磁共振成像的工作原理是能够成像人体器官和组织内的水。不幸的是，肺部的MRI是非常困难的，因为肺大部分是充满空气的，没有太多的体积水含量。此外，传统的核磁共振成像和大多数基于x射线的肺部拍照技术都是解剖图片，并不能提供肺部工作状况的信息。功能信息)。近年来，利用惰性氟化气体作为肺部成像的可吸入造影剂的MRI引起了人们的兴趣。这些气体是安全的，相对丰富的，便宜的，并且可以通过核磁共振检测到。这让我们可以看到肺内气体的分布，让我们可以测量肺的工作情况。尽管惰性氟化气体核磁共振成像提供了好处，但利用不足，全世界只有少数医院和研究中心对其进行了探索。出现这种情况的部分原因是，在如何最好地利用这项技术方面，仍然存在一些根本的未解之谜，例如：哪种氟化气体是最好的？在核磁共振成像中，向受试者输送气体的最佳方式是什么？哪个MRI扫描参数最适合这个应用？这项技术是否适用于儿童和成人？该项目的目的是回答上述悬而未决的技术问题，以帮助开发可靠的惰性氟化气体肺MRI方法。在私营部门合作伙伴的帮助下，我们将把我们的发现，如最佳成像策略，转化为标准操作程序（SOP）和软件包，可以与其他机构共享，进一步降低临床应用的障碍。

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technology that allows pictures to be taken inside the body without the use of x-rays or other harmful radiation. Typically, MRI works by being able to image water inside organs and tissues of the human body. Unfortunately, MRI of the lungs is very difficult due to the fact that the lungs are mostly air-filled, without much water content by volume. Additionally, conventional MRI and most x-ray based technologies which take pictures of the lungs take anatomical pictures, and do not provide information about how well the lungs are working (ie. functional information). MRI using inert fluorinated gases as an inhalable contrast mechanism for lung imaging has gained interest recently. These gases are safe, relatively abundant, cheap, and are detectable by the MRI. This allows us to visualize the distribution of gases inside the lungs, allowing us to measure how well the lung is working. Despite the benefits provided by inert fluorinated gas MRI, it is under-utilized and has only been explored at a handful of hospitals and research centres worldwide. Part of the reason for this is because there are still fundamental unanswered questions associated with how best to use this technology such as: which fluorinated gas is best? What is the best way to deliver the gas to a subject in the MRI? Which MRI scan parameters work best for this application? Is this technique feasible in children as well as adults? The aim of this project will be to answer the outstanding technical questions described above to help develop robust inert fluorinated gas lung MRI methodologies. With the help of our private-sector partner, we will translate our findings, such as optimal imaging strategies, into standard operating procedures (SOP) and software packages that may be shared with other institutions, further lowering the barrier to more widespread clinical adoption.