SBIR Phase I: A Nanostructured Superconductor for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目旨在开发具有优异性能的薄膜高温超导体（HTS），该薄膜高温超导体在高磁场下不会退化，可用于磁共振成像（MRI）中的高性能传感器线圈。超导体结构将在纳米尺度上进行设计，控制杂质的分布，作为磁通固定位点，减少高场下MRI射频（rf）损失。将生长出一系列具有不同层参数的高温超导薄膜。薄膜将通过在薄膜上绘制的谐振器结构上的射频测量来表征。计划开发的产品是在高磁场下工作的高性能HTS MRI传感器线圈，其信噪比（SNR）比现有的HTS线圈高5 ~ 10倍，比铜线圈高15 ~ 30倍。随着MRI系统向更高的磁场迁移，该项目的更广泛/商业影响将有可能满足MRI市场对更短扫描时间和更高分辨率的需求。这将改善病人的舒适度、临床诊断和药物发现。目前磁共振成像传感器线圈的潜在市场规模在美国每年约为8800万美元，全球每年约为1.83亿美元。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop thin-film high-temperature superconductors (HTS) with superior properties that do not degrade in high magnetic fields for applications as high-performance sensor coils in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The superconductor structure will be engineered at nanoscale with the controlled distribution of impurities that act as flux pinning sites that reduce the MRI radio frequencies (rf) loss at high fields. A series of HTS thin films with different layer parameters will be grown. The films will be characterized by rf measurements on resonator structures patterned on the films. The planned product is a high-performance HTS MRI sensor coil that operates in high magnetic fields with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 5 to 10 times higher than that of present HTS coils, and 15 to 30 times higher than that of copper coils.The broader/commercial impact of this project will be the potential to address the MRI market needs of shorter scan time and increased resolution as MRI systems migrate towards higher magnetic fields. This will lead to improved patient comforts, clinical diagnoses and drug discoveries. The current addressable market size for MRI sensor coils is about $88 million per year in the Unites States and $183 million per year worldwide.