SBIR Phase I: Evaluation of screen-printing as a manufacturing technique for MRI coils

该SBIR第一阶段项目解决了使用丝网印刷以商业规模制造磁共振成像（MRI）接收线圈的关键挑战。MRI被广泛用于建立各种临床诊断，但存在检查时间长和失败率高的问题，导致成本高。印刷的接收线圈是柔性的、重量轻的、很好地符合人体，并且可以以低一个数量级的成本制造。利用该技术，可以设计和打印适合所有患者解剖结构的线圈，从而提高图像质量并提供上级舒适度。这些技术有可能提高MRI检查的成功率，加快手术时间并增强临床工作流程。印刷线圈将对MRI的可及性产生影响，为更多样化的患者人群提供服务，例如儿科和肥胖患者，由于缺乏足够的线圈，这些患者目前对该成像模式的访问有限。总的来说，该项目旨在使印刷线圈的制造，从而有助于降低与MRI相关的医疗保健成本，同时显着提高患者护理的质量。这个SBIR第一阶段项目调查的表征丝网印刷MRI线圈阵列的临床使用的关键方面。我们已经证明，印刷和灵活的MRI阵列提供诊断图像，同时为患者提供更好的贴合性和舒适性。 印刷电子材料是一种新型的制造方法，用于制造这些医疗设备。 我们的目标是提供针对不同解剖结构患者定制尺寸和设计的弹簧圈。在这个拟议的计划中，我们将评估印刷的可重复性、设计策略以及印刷线圈阵列的稳健性和寿命。线圈尺寸和几何结构对图像质量和身体覆盖有直接影响。我们将研究线圈尺寸和几何形状的基本限制时，使用溶液处理的导体比传统的金属具有较低的导电性。测量的信噪比和图像质量的变化，从打印到打印将被表征和记录，以提供一个成功的模型，大规模和低成本制造线圈阵列。最后，将测试印刷阵列的稳健性。我们设计中使用的包装与现状有很大不同。临床场景中使用的阵列的寿命量化对于成功的商业计划非常重要。

This SBIR Phase I project tackles the key challenges of using screen-printing to manufacture receive coils for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at a commercial scale. MRI is widely used to establish a broad variety of clinical diagnosis, but suffers from long exam times and a high rate of failure, resulting in high costs. Printed receive coils are flexible, lightweight, conform well to the human body and can be manufactured at an order of magnitude lower costs. With this technology, coils can be designed and printed to fit all patient anatomy, therefore improving image quality and offering superior comfort. These technology offers the potential to increase success rate of MRI exams, speed up procedure time and to enhance clinical workflow. Printed coils will have an impact on the accessibility to MRI, serving a more diverse patient population, such as pediatric and bariatric patients, who currently have limited access to this imaging modality, due to the lack of adequate coils. Overall, this project aims at enabling the fabrication of printed coils, thus contributing to reduce health care costs associated with MRI while significantly improving the quality of patient care.This SBIR Phase I project investigates critical aspects of characterization of screen-printing MRI coil arrays for clinical use. We have shown that printed and flexible MRI arrays provide diagnostic images, while providing better fit and comfort to patients. Printing electronic materials is a novel manufacturing approach which is used here to fabricate these medical devices. Our goal is to provide coils with size and design customized for the diverse anatomy of patients. In this proposed program, we will evaluate the reproducibility of printing, design strategies and the robustness and lifetime of printed coil arrays. Coil size and geometry have a direct impact on image quality and body coverage. We will study the fundamental limits of coil size and geometry when fabricated using solution processed conductors with lower conductivity than conventional metals. The variations in measured signal-to-noise-ratio and image quality from print to print will be characterized and documented in order to provide a successful model for large-scale and low-cost manufacturing of coil arrays. Finally, the robustness of printed arrays will be tested. The packaging used in our designs are significantly different from the status-quo. Lifetime quantification for arrays used in clinical scenarios is important for a successful business plan.