Presidential Young Investigator Award

放射学研究的一个长期目标是发展准确的非侵入性血管造影技术。核磁共振成像(MRI)对流动的质子很敏感，可以实现这一目标。该研究项目计划评估新的、商业上可用的磁共振成像仪检测简单和复杂流场的能力。它计划构建一个通用的、与MRI兼容的流动体模系统，能够在心血管系统的模型中产生稳定和脉动的流动，如有狭窄的直管和曲管、主动脉和肺动脉。这项研究的具体目标是：A.开发一种通用的流动系统，能够容纳一系列简单和复杂的模型(幻影)，该系统与MRI中使用的高磁场兼容；B.通过MRI测试已建立的心血管系统模型以及使用氢气泡和染料注射的实验室流动显示；以及C.将MRI图像与流体力学物理相关联，以定义现有MRI技术的限制和能力。这项研究的结果应该允许开发新的MRI脉冲序列，以提高MRI测量血流的准确性和范围，并进一步发展无创动脉造影术。

A longstanding aim of radiologic research has been the development of accurate noninvasive angiographic techniques. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is sensitive to flowing protons and may achieve this goal. The research project plans to assess the capabilities of new, commercially available magnetic resonance imagers to detect simple and complex flow fields. It is planned to construct a general, MRI- compatible flow phantom system capable of creating steady and pulsatile flow in models of the cardiovascular system such as straight and curved tubes with stenoses, the aorta, and the pulmonary artery. The specific goals of this study are to: a. develop a general flow system capable of accommodating a range of simple and complex models (phantoms) which is compatible with the high magnetic fields utilized in MRI, b. test flows through established models of the cardiovascular system by MRI and laboratory flow visualization using hydrogen bubbles and dye injection, and c. correlate the MRI images with the fluid mechanic physics to define the limits and capabilities of existing MRI techniques. The results of this study should allow new MRI pulse sequences to be developed to improve the accuracy and range of flow measurements by MRI and further the development of non-invasive arteriography.