Compact MRI

该项目主要由库姆斯博士领导的研究小组在剑桥大学进行。该研究旨在解决超高场磁体开发的基础基础研究，这将有助于推进新材料的研究，并进一步了解现有材料。目前，高温超导磁体必须通过粗大的冷热电流引线由庞大的电源驱动，这使得隔热变得复杂，限制了电流容量，并影响了磁场稳定性。磁通泵送高温超导磁体提供了一种方法，消除了对这种电源和电流引线的依赖，开辟了一种真正紧凑，可运输和低成本的MRI，可以带到病人的床边。进一步的减重可以通过开发超短磁铁来实现。用于急性脑成像的移动近病人MRI是一个诱人的前景，但目前还没有临床可用的原型解决方案。技术上的挑战是巨大的。传统核磁共振成像中的磁场是由低温超导体在液氦（4.2 k）中产生的。该项目将探索使用HTS创建超紧凑系统的可能性，从而扩展已经证实的临床诊断方法MRI的范围，挽救生命并改善康复前景。

The project is primarily carried out at Cambridge University by the research team led by Dr Coombs. The research is constituted to address fundamental underpinning research into the development of ultra-high field magnets that will help to advance research into novel materials and to further understand existing ones. Currently HTS magnets have to be driven by bulky power supplies via thick warm-to-cold current leads, which complicates heat insulation, limits current capacity, and affects field stability. Flux pumping an HTS magnet provides an approach to eliminate the reliance on such power supplies and current leads, opening up the way to a truly compact, transportable and low cost MRI which could be taken to the patients' bedsides. Further weight savings can be achieved by developing an ultra-short magnet.Mobile near-patient MRI for acute brain imaging is a tantalizing prospect but no clinically usable prototype solution is currently available. The technological challenges are substantial. The magnetic field in traditional MRIs is generated by Low-Temperature Superconductors which operate in liquid helium(@4.2K). This project will explored the possibility of creating an ultra-compact system using HTS and thereby to extend the range of an already proven method of clinical diagnosis, MRI, saving lives and improving recovery prospects.