Low Cost Magnesium Diboride Superconducting Wire for 7 to 10 Tesla MRI Systems

描述（由申请人提供）：该快速通道第一阶段和第二阶段的长期目标是开发一种低成本高场超导体，该超导体能够实现成本有效的6-8特斯拉临床MRI系统，供日常使用。这将使需要高分辨率和快速成像的MRI应用的公众受益。这与NIH的使命相匹配，即为公众提供具有成本效益的改善医疗保健。该快速通道第一阶段和第二阶段提案的具体目标是在4 K下在7-11特斯拉范围内显著改善MgB 2超导线材的性价比。目前，各种MRI生产商正在考虑7特斯拉范围内的临床MRI。在世界各地，7-9特斯拉范围内的MRI系统已被用于研究目的，每个成本为数百万美元。目前不存在用于大容量、低成本、7-8特斯拉MRI系统的经济超导体线。7-8特斯拉范围内的高场MRI的进一步商业化将需要将导线暴露于10-11特斯拉范围内的场。不幸的是，这超出了NbTi超导体的磁场范围，NbTi超导体是商用1.5和3.0特斯拉（导线上为6特斯拉）MRI系统的主力超导体。虽然Nb 3Sn超导体已经改进并且在7至20特斯拉的这些更高的场中工作，但是这种线仍然相当昂贵，与6特斯拉的NbTi线相比，在7-11特斯拉的每千安培米的基础上，这种线的价格是4至6倍。Hyper Tech预测，MgB 2导线在7-11特斯拉时的每千安培米成本可以接近NbTi导线上6特斯拉时的每千安培米成本。这是基于各种研究人员的实验工作，其中已经获得超过35特斯拉的Bc 2，并且各种薄膜研究工作已经在4.2K的自场中产生1，000，000 A/mm 2的电流密度，并且在10特斯拉下产生超过1000 A/mm 2的电流密度。如果这种类型的性能可以在散装线中获得，那么MgB 2的这种低性价比可以实现低成本的6-8特斯拉临床MRI系统。在第一和第二阶段的快速通道中，我们打算通过改进制造、改进硼粉制造和改进高温绝缘来实现这些目标。这个快速通道第一阶段和第二阶段将开发一种低成本的高场超导体，使具有成本效益的6-8特斯拉临床MRI系统每天使用。这将使需要高分辨率和快速成像的MRI应用的公众受益。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long term objective of this Fast Track Phase I and Phase II is to develop a low cost high field superconductor that can enable cost effective 6-8 tesla clinical MRI systems for every day use. This will benefit the public for MRI applications that require high resolution and rapid imaging. This matches with NIH mission of delivering cost effective improved health care to the public. The specific objectives of this Fast Track Phase I and Phase II proposal is to make significant improvement in the price-performance of MgB2 superconductor wires in the 7-11 tesla range at 4 K. Presently various MRI producers are considering clinical MRIs in the 7 Tesla range. Around the world MRI systems in the 7-9 tesla range have been built for research purposes, at a cost of several million dollars each. Presently an economical superconductor wire does not exist for high volume, low cost, 7-8 tesla MRI systems. Further commercialization of high field MRI's in the 7-8 tesla range would require the wire to be exposed to fields in the 10-11 tesla range. Unfortunately this is outside field range of NbTi superconductors, the workhorse superconductor for the commercial 1.5 and 3.0 tesla (6 tesla on the wire) MRI systems. While Nb3Sn superconductors has improved and operates in these higher fields of 7 to 20 tesla, this wire is still quite expense, 4 to 6 times more expensive on a $ per kilo-amp-meter basis at 7-11 tesla compared to NbTi wire at 6 tesla. Hyper Tech has projected that a MgB2 wire can be close to the same $ per kilo-amp-meter at 7-11 tesla as NbTi at 6 tesla on the wire. This is based on the experimental work of various researchers where Bc2 of over 35 tesla have been obtained, and various thin film research work have produced 1,000,000 A/mm2 current densities at 4.2 K in self field and over 1000 A/mm2 at 10 tesla. If this type of performance can be obtained in bulk wires, then this low price-performance for MgB2 is possible to enable low cost 6-8 tesla clinical MRI Systems. In this Fast Track Phase I and II we intend to accomplish these objectives through improved manufacturing, improved boron powder manufacturing, and improved high temperature insulation. This Fast Track Phase I and Phase II will develop a low cost high field superconductor that will enable cost effective 6-8 tesla clinical MRI systems for every day use. This will benefit the public for MRI applications that require high resolution and rapid imaging.