Realising the potential of open MRI for dynamic studies of human anatomy and function

我们使用磁共振成像（MRI）作为一种强大的非侵入性技术来研究人体解剖学，功能和生理学，例如，研究不同的治疗方法如何起作用并影响不同的人（实验医学和个性化医学）。不幸的是，标准的圆柱孔MRI扫描仪迫使人们躺在受限的仰卧位置，这有几个不幸的后果。对于我们这里所关注的工作来说，最重要的是，重力和姿势对人体有重大影响，因此强迫人们躺下会扰乱生理学研究。然而，除此之外，有些病人根本不能平躺（例如那些患有慢性阻塞性肺疾病的人）。此外，许多患者发现传统的核磁共振扫描仪幽闭恐惧症和儿童往往需要镇静，以阻止他们在核磁共振扫描期间移动。我们现在有机会克服这些问题，因为最近磁体技术的重大进步已经允许开发新的“开放式MRI”系统，允许人们在扫描期间坐、站或躺下。开放式扫描仪的能力目前是有限的，因为它们不能提供传统MRI所需的理想磁场。然而，与此同时，MRI数据采集和重建领域正在发生一场革命，它可以克服这些不完美磁场的影响。我们将结合MRI的这两个主要创新，为开放MRI提供一个范式转变，使我们能够在动态的，自然的身体姿势中获得结构和功能的生物医学信息。在这个项目中，我们将专注于开发新技术，使我们能够充分利用开放式MRI的功能。我们将设计新的射频线圈用来在核磁共振中收集信号，我们将开发一种方法来监测在开放式扫描仪中发生的磁场的意外变化，我们将开发收集和重建成像数据的方法，使我们能够考虑这些场中的变化，以及受试者的运动。我们的目标是高速获取图像，以便我们监测坐着或站着时的身体功能，例如，快到足以观察胃肠道的运动，或者让人们自由呼吸，同时我们对他们的肺部进行成像。我们将开发通用的解决方案来解决开放式MRI的挑战，然后使用它们来生产定制的成像方法来解决一系列特定的生物医学问题，因为它们需要开放式MRI的优势。具体来说，我们将设计解决方案来研究以下情况：-以急性呼吸窘迫综合征为例，包括covid - 19病毒感染后：一些呼吸道患者特别难以平躺。-胃轻瘫：这是一种使人虚弱的疾病，它阻止了正常的胃排空，但胃排空可以通过躺下来改变。-疼痛性膝骨关节炎：膝关节最好在站立时进行研究，但需要快速扫描，因为这些患者负重可能会感到疼痛。

We use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as a powerful, non-invasive technique for the study of human anatomy, function and physiology, for instance to investigate how different treatments work and affect different people (experimental medicine and personalised medicine). Unfortunately standard cylindrical-bore MRI scanners force people to lie in a confined, supine position, which has several unfortunate consequences. Most importantly for the work we are focusing on here, gravity and posture have significant effects on the human body, and so forcing people to lie down can confound physiological studies. However beyond this, some patients simply cannot lie flat (for instance those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease -COPD). Furthermore, many patients find the conventional MRI scanners claustrophobic and children often need to be sedated to stop them moving during MRI scanning.We now have the chance to overcome these problems, since a recent major advance in magnet technology has allowed the development of new 'open MRI' systems, allowing people to sit, stand or lie down during scanning. The capabilities of the open scanners are currently limited because they cannot provide the ideal magnetic fields required for traditional MRI. However, in parallel, a revolution is occurring in MRI data acquisition and reconstruction, which can overcome the effects of these imperfect magnetic fields. We will combine these two major innovations in MRI, to provide a paradigm shift in open MRI, allowing us to acquire both structural and functional biomedical information in dynamic, naturalistic body positions.In this project we will focus on developing new technologies that will allow us to exploit the full capabilities of open MRI. We will design new RF coils that we use to collect the signal during MRI, we will develop a method to monitor the unintended variations in the magnetic fields that occur in the open scanner, and we will develop methods of collecting and reconstructing the imaging data to allow us to take account of these variations in field, and also subject motion. Our goal is to acquire images at high speed to allow us to monitor the function of the body in seated or standing positions, for instance fast enough to observe the movement of the gastrointestinal tract, or to allow people to breath freely whilst we image their lungs. We will develop generic solutions to address the challenges of open MRI, and then use them to produce tailored imaging approaches to address a series of specific biomedical questions that have been chosen as they need the advantages of open MRI. Specifically we will design solutions to study the following conditions:- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome for instance after viral infection including COVID19: it is particularly difficult for some respiratory patients to lie flat.- Gastroparesis: this is a debilitating condition which prevents normal stomach emptying, but gastric emptying can be changed by lying down. - Painful knee osteoarthritis: the knee is best studied in a standing position, but rapid scanning is required since weight-bearing can be painful for these patients.