Array Detectors for Accelerated Small Animal MRI

描述(由申请人提供) 德克萨斯大学MD安德森癌症中心小动物癌症研究成像设施是一个核心机构资源，为需要对小动物癌症模型进行成像测量的研究提供成像仪器和操作支持。一台四通道、4.7T的Bruker Biospec实验核磁共振/核磁共振扫描仪是该计划的主要组成部分。该仪器的利用率很高，对更多动物的成像需求很大。这项提议的目标是实施和评估并行成像战略，以加快数据采集速度，从而减少扫描时间，增加每单位时间可以扫描的动物数量，允许更多地访问仪器，并通过设施按存储容量使用计费政策降低调查人员的每个数据点的总体成本。将实施并行采集策略，允许同时采集几个动物的成像数据。一个非常简单的批量线圈阵列的实现，完全由商业上可获得的组件制造，将被组装并根据应用限制和动物产量的总体增加进行评估。这种简单的配置将允许UTMDACC和几乎任何具有多通道能力的站点以最少的开发时间投资立即实现多卷的高分辨率成像。这项合作工作是UTMDACC和Bruker Biospin MRI之间出于使用这些仪器提高吞吐量的共同兴趣而建立的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Small Animal Cancer Research Imaging Facility is a core institutional resource that provides imaging instrumentation and operational support for investigations that require imaging based measurement of small animal models of cancer. A four channel, 4.7T Bruker Biospec experimental NMR/MRI scanner is a major component of this program. This instrument is highly utilized with significant demand for the imaging of larger numbers of animals. The objective of this proposal is to implement and evaluate parallel imaging strategies that accelerate datacquisition rates, thereby reducing scan times, increasing the number of animals that can be scanned per unit time, allowing greater access to the instrument, and reducing the overall cost per data point incurred to investigators through facility charge back policies. Parallel acquisition strategies will be implemented that allow the simultaneous acquisition of imaging data from several animals at once. A very simple implementation of an array of volume coils, manufactured entirely from components that are commercially available will be assembled and evaluated in terms of application limitations and overall increase in animal throughput. Such a straightforward configuration would allow UTMDACC and virtually any site with multichannel capabilities to immediately achieve high-resolution imaging of multiple volumes with minimal investment in development time. This collaborative effort has been established between UTMDACC and Bruker Biospin MRI out of common interest in enhancing throughput using these instruments.