Flexible, lightweight coils for radiation-transparent multi-modality imaging

项目摘要 磁共振成像（MRI）提供高动态范围软组织对比度和完整的体积数据 不使用电离辐射。磁共振成像与其他成像和治疗的结合 模式，特别是正电子发射断层扫描（PET/MR）和放射治疗（MR引导 放射治疗，MRgRT），已经获得了关注，因为这些系统的技术进步已经允许 将其纳入临床工作流程。MR图像质量直接取决于RF线圈阵列、局部 天线作为接收链的主要组成部分;线圈性能取决于距离 因此，大多数MR系统使用一套解剖结构专用阵列用于各种应用。 然而，在混合系统中，X射线与这些线圈阵列的相互作用是患者护理的显著障碍， 限制PET/MR中的图像质量，并导致靶剂量降低和皮肤剂量增加， MRgRT中的散射。此外，它们传统上笨重和刚性的形式可能使它们与RT不兼容 固定硬件，特别是用于头部和颈部成像。与固定硬件不兼容 还限制了MR成像用于治疗前放射治疗模拟（MR-Sim）的使用。我们的目标是 开发一套与PET/MR兼容的灵活、适形、辐射透明的头颈阵列， MRgRT、MR-Sim和传统MRI。第一阶段SBIR特定目标侧重于优化线圈和硬件 辐射透明性和MR性能的技术，开发和测试24通道柔性阵列 用于3 T PET/MR，并分析将该技术扩展到其他场强和线圈设计的可行性。 第二阶段提案的目标围绕着将这种新技术应用于开放市场 需求：适用于多模态系统的适形头/颈阵列，与各种患者解剖结构兼容。 由于市售PET/MR和MRgRT系统覆盖大范围的MR系统频率， 将在多模态MR系统的最具临床影响力的场强下进行线圈开发： 3 T、1.5T和0.35T。我们的项目将生产一个头部/颈部阵列套件，涵盖从儿科到成人的患者， 并且将被设计为确保上颈椎和颈部的一致性能， 患者解剖结构。这套线圈将包括小型、中型和大型阵列（24- 28和32通道 它们通过通用电缆和连接器连接到系统上， 标准头颈固定硬件。通过完成这些目标，我们旨在改善患者体验 通过为3 T MR/PET、1.5T MRgRT和所有MR-Sim生产一套优化的头部/颈部线圈， 系统，并开发扩展到0.35T MRgRT的技术。

Project Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides high dynamic range soft tissue contrast and full volumetric data sets without the use of ionizing radiation. The combination of MR imaging with other imaging and treatment modalities, specifically with Positron Emission Tomography (PET/MR) and radiation therapy (MR guided Radiation Therapy, MRgRT), has gained attention as technological advances in these systems have allowed for their release into the clinical workflow. MR image quality is directly dependent on RF coil arrays, localized antennae that serve as the main component of the receive chain; and coil performance is dependent on proximity to the anatomy of interest, so most MR systems use a suite of anatomy specific arrays for various applications. However, in hybrid systems 𝛾-ray interactions with these coil arrays is a significant obstacle to patient care, limiting image quality in PET/MR and contributing to decreased target dose and increased skin dose from scattering in MRgRT. Additionally, their traditionally bulky and rigid form can render them incompatible with RT immobilization hardware, especially for head and neck imaging. Incompatibility with immobilization hardware also limits the use of MR imaging for radiation therapy simulation before treatment (MR-Sim). Our goal is to develop a suite of flexible, conformal, radiation transparent head/neck arrays that are compatible with PET/MR, MRgRT, MR-Sim and traditional MRI. Phase I SBIR Specific Aims focused on optimizing coil and hardware technology for radiation-transparency and MR performance, developing and testing a 24-channel flexible array for 3T PET/MR, and analyzing the feasibility of scaling this technology to other field strengths and coil designs. The objectives of this Phase II proposal center around the application of this novel technology to an open market need: conformal head/neck arrays for multi-modality systems compatible with varying patient anatomies. Because commercially available PET/MR and MRgRT systems cover a large range of MR system frequencies, coil development will be pursued at the most clinically impactful field strengths for multi-modality MR systems: 3T, 1.5T, and 0.35T. Our project will produce a head/neck array suite, covering patients from pediatric to adult, and will be designed to ensure consistent performance in the upper c-spine and neck despite highly variable patient anatomies. This suite of coils will include small, medium, and large arrays (24- 28- and 32-channels respectively) which attach to the system through a universal cable and connector and are compatible with standard head/neck immobilization hardware. By completing these goals, we aim to improve patient experience and outcomes by producing an optimized suite of head/neck coils for 3T MR/PET, 1.5T MRgRT, and all MR-Sim systems, and developing the technology for expansion to 0.35T MRgRT.