Biomedical Applications of Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance

描述（由申请人提供）：提出了一系列实验，旨在开发核四极共振（NQR）的生物医学应用。NQR类似于MRI，但不需要外部磁场。结合NQR和MRI技术可以潜在地帮助扩展医学光谱和成像的能力，超越目前现有的磁体要求所施加的限制。在第一阶段中，将构建三维激发/检测装置，与传统的线性装置相比，该装置预期将产生信噪比的显著改善。该设备还可用于研究样品排序和帮助抑制声振铃。该项目的第二阶段将致力于开发一个三维空间定位的NQR光谱的基础上，磁场梯度技术以前在申办者的实验室开发。在第三部分的研究中，将获得来自肌肉组织的酰胺14 N核的NQR信号。这一过程将得到该小组目前使用的一些超灵敏采集和信号处理技术的帮助。NQR信号的频率预计将依赖于肌肉的张力状态，与空间定位方法相结合，可能会发现其在心脏医学中的直接应用。该项目将对申请人具有巨大的教育价值，申请人将接触到许多先进的NQR技术，其中一些技术在赞助商的实验室中是独一无二的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A series of experiments is proposed, aimed at developing the biomedical application of Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR). NQR is similar to MRI, but requires no external magnetic field. Combining NQR and MRI technologies can potentially help expand capabilities of medical spectroscopy and imaging beyond currently existing limitations imposed by the requirement of the magnet. In the first stage, a three-dimensional excitation/detection device will be constructed, which is expected to yield significant improvements in the signal-to-noise ratio, as compared to the conventional linear devices. The device can also be used to study sample ordering and to help suppress acoustic ringing. The second phase of the project will be dedicated to the development of a three-dimensional spatial localization of the NQR spectra based on the magnetic-field gradient technique previously developed in the sponsor's laboratory. In the third part of the investigations, an NQR signal from the amide 14N nuclei of muscle tissue will be obtained. The process will be aided by a number of ultra-sensitive acquisition and signal processing techniques currently used in the group. The frequency of the NQR signal is expected to be dependent of the tension state of the muscles, which, combined with the spatial-localization methodology, may find its immediate application in cardiac medicine. The project will have tremendous educational value for the applicant, who will be exposed to many advanced NQR techniques, some of which are uniquely available in the sponsor's laboratory.