Advanced Clinical Cardiovascular MR Imaging and Spectroscopy at 7 Tesla

磁共振成像（MRI）使我们能够对人体内部进行无创成像。在过去的5-10年里，这项技术在大脑领域的先驱已经成为临床心脏成像的无价技术。核磁共振扫描仪在1.5特斯拉的磁场强度下工作。增加磁场强度可以提供更高的图像质量，我们率先使用了3台特斯拉扫描仪。商业上最高的人体磁场强度是7特斯拉，这是我们的下一步。在高场强下成像会产生更多的信号，从而更快地获得图像，或者具有更高的空间分辨率。我们将开发的区域是那些受低信噪比（信噪比）限制在1.5和3特斯拉的区域。其中包括冠状动脉成像和人类心脏中富含能量的代谢物。冠状动脉成像很重要，因为这些血管对心脏供血至关重要。心脏病吗?)7T的高信噪比将使我们能够以比以前的MRI更高的分辨率对这些血管的血液和壁进行成像，使我们能够看到小斑块和细微的损伤。心脏的代谢状况是另一个重要的研究领域，我们牛津大学在这方面处于世界领先地位。一种叫做MRS（磁共振光谱）的技术显示了心脏的生物化学。磷酸肌酸和三磷酸腺苷是提供能量的重要代谢物，它们的水平甚至可以在功能改变变得明显之前给出损伤的指示。在7T时，更高的空间分辨率使MRS能够检查心脏的小区域，相当于目前临床检查所需的区域（这在低视场是不可能的）。其他项目将在这些方法的基础上研究氧气供应、纤维疤痕组织的程度和心脏小血管的血液供应。在临床上，这些发展有可能将心脏代谢、氧合和冠状动脉斑块生物学的磁共振成像从一个小众研究工具转变为一种主流诊断手段，可以将患者作为个体进行治疗，使医生能够监测疾病的进展或对治疗的反应。这些技术将大大有助于改善心血管健康和减轻心血管疾病的负担。我们的计划是非常新颖的，我们将是英国第一个，可能是欧洲第一个，在7T时开发心脏MR的地方。

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows us to image the inside of the human body non-invasively. Pioneered in the brain this technique has become invaluable over the last 5-10 years for imaging the heart in the clinic. MRI scanners operate at a magnetic field strength of 1.5 Tesla. Increasing the magnetic field strength can provide higher image quality and we have pioneered the use of 3 Tesla scanners. The highest commercially available human field strength is 7 Tesla, which is our next step.Imaging at higher field strength results in more signal, and thus, the images are obtained quicker, or with higher spatial resolution. The areas that we will develop are those that are limited by low SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) at 1.5 and 3 Tesla. These include imaging the coronary arteries and the energy-rich metabolites in the human heart. Coronary artery imaging is important as these vessels are critical to supplying blood to the heart (blockages cause ?heart attack?). The higher SNR of 7T will allow us to image the blood and walls of these vessels at higher resolution than has previously been possible with MRI enabling us to visualise small plaques and subtle damage. The metabolic condition of the heart is another important area of research where we in Oxford are world leaders. A technique called MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) shows the biochemistry of the heart. Levels of phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate, which are essential energy-providing metabolites, can give an indication of damage even before functional changes become apparent. At 7T, the higher spatial resolution enables the MRS examination of small regions in the heart, equivalent to those presently required in clinical examination (this is impossible at lower field). Additional projects will build on these methods to look at oxygen supply, the degree of fibrous scar tissue, and the blood supply from small vessels in the heart. Clinically these developments have the potential to transform MR imaging of cardiac metabolism, oxygenation, and coronary plaque biology from a niche research tool into a mainstream diagnostic measure that can treat the patient as an individual, enabling doctors to monitor the progress of a disease or the response to therapy over time. These techniques would contribute significantly to improving cardiovascular health and to relieving the burden of cardiovascular disease. Our plans are highly novel, and we would be the first site in the UK, and probably in Europe, developing cardiac MR at 7T.