9.4T MR Instrument Console Upgrade

描述（由申请人提供）：磁共振（MR）仪器为许多生物医学研究人员提供了关键的非侵入性成像工具。现有的9.4-T、31-cm孔径MR系统由首批NCRR高端仪器资助机制（S10 RR 17239）于2002年资助，由Varian Inc.提供。(Palo Alto，CA），并于2003年2月交付。该提案的目的是升级模拟控制台接口到我们的9.4-T MR仪器与基于数字的控制台，以更好地执行高分辨率的动物研究在匹兹堡大学。这将增强现有的9.4 T MR控制台在体内功能和生理研究以及解剖和病理研究中的实用性。2005年，我们将所要求的基于数字的DirectDrive（R）控制台替换为基于模拟的INOVA（R）控制台，这是我们目前9.4-T系统的一部分。我们现时的控制台必须由一台装有Unix操作系统的Sun工作站驱动，而Sun Microsystems已停止使用这种操作系统，而新的数字控制台则由一台装有Linux操作软件的个人电脑控制。因此，建议的控制台升级是至关重要的保持9.4 T MR仪器作为一个国家的最先进的系统，以便研究人员可以继续取得成功。要求的数字DirectDrive（R）瓦里安控制台已完全重新设计，并提供了几个主要的改进，我们目前的模拟为基础的瓦里安控制台。要求的控制台有四个质子发射器板，一个X核发射器板和4个接收器，允许并行成像功能。所要求的控制台具有80 MHz采样频率的数字接收器、集成的16位梯度控制器、数字RF脉冲功能和增加的标准脉冲序列库。所要求的控制台升级将保持NIH资助的9.4-T MR系统作为最先进的设备，这对匹兹堡正在进行和未来的生物医学成像项目至关重要。 公共卫生相关性：高场磁共振仪器对于进行活体功能和生理研究以及解剖和病理研究至关重要。所要求的控制台升级将对基础和临床前生物医学研究产生影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Magnetic resonance (MR) instruments provide critical noninvasive imaging tools to many biomedical researchers. The existing 9.4-T, 31-cm bore MR system, which was funded by one of the first NCRR High-End Instrumentation grant mechanisms (S10 RR17239) in 2002, was obtained from Varian Inc. (Palo Alto, CA), and delivered in February 2003. The aim of this proposal is to upgrade the analog console interfaced to our 9.4-T MR instrument with a digital-based console to better perform high-resolution animal studies at the University of Pittsburgh. This will enhance the utility of the existing 9.4-T MR console for in vivo functional and physiological studies, as well as for anatomical and pathological research. The requested digital-based DirectDrive(R) console was replaced to the analog-based INOVA(R) console, which is part of our current 9.4-T system, in 2005. Our current console must be driven by a Sun workstation with Unix operating system, which has been discontinued by Sun Microsystems, while the new digital-based console is controlled by a personal computer with Linux- based operating software. Thus, the proposed console upgrade is critical for maintaining the 9.4-T MR instrument as a state-of-the-art system in order that researchers may continue to be successful. The requested digital DirectDrive(R) Varian console has been totally redesigned and offers several major improvements over our current analog-based Varian console. The requested console has four transmitter boards for proton, one transmitter board for X-nuclei, and 4 receivers, allowing parallel imaging capabilities. The requested console has a digital receiver with 80 MHz sampling frequency, an integrated 16-bit gradient controller, digital RF pulse features, and an increased library of standard pulse sequences. The requested console upgrade will maintain the NIH-funded 9.4-T MR system as state-of-the-art equipment, which is crucial for ongoing and future biomedical imaging projects in Pittsburgh. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: High-field magnetic resonance instrument is critically important to perform in vivo functional and physiological studies, as well as for anatomical and pathological research. The requested console upgrade will make impacts to basic and pre-clinical biomedical research.