Combined RT-shim & gradient system B-GA 12S

描述（由申请人提供）：9.4 T磁共振成像实验室是斯托尼布鲁克大学（SBU）和布鲁克海文国家实验室（BNL）之间的联合设施，自2004年以来一直在运行。不断增长的用户群主要包括来自BNL、SBU和冷泉港实验室的研究人员。目前的研究项目包括大鼠和小鼠大脑的1H磁共振波谱（1HMRS），啮齿动物大脑的高分辨率活体MR显微镜，使用回波平面成像（EPI）的功能磁共振成像以及心脏和流体流动动力学。所有这些应用（尤其是1HMRS和EPI）都依赖于仔细的梯度匀场校正，以在采集期间建立足够的场均匀性。我们目前安装的匀场装置存在缺陷，原因是匀场功率较弱，温度不稳定，导致采集过程中局部场不均匀和显著的频率漂移。因此，我们正在申请资金，用于一个新的B-GA 12梯度集与内部垫片集，这是温度稳定与主动水冷却。显然，此次升级将提供的窄谱线宽度、改善的主磁场稳定性和整体磁场均匀性将全面提高设施中完成的所有MR成像采集的质量，从而使我们9.4T MRI仪器的所有用户受益。然而，所要求的垫片组的最大好处将是在大鼠和小鼠大脑中的体内1HMRS领域，这包括我们的大多数用户的研究应用和重点。 公共卫生相关性：这项研究与公共卫生的相关性在于，所要求的工具将使我们能够对多发性硬化症、阿尔茨海默病和抑郁症的转基因小鼠模型进行研究，从而有助于提高我们对导致这些疾病的过程以及最终对其治疗和预防的理解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The 9.4T magnetic resonance imaging laboratory is a joint facility between Stony Brook University (SBU) and Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and has been operational since 2004. The growing user group mainly includes investigators from BNL, SBU and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. The current research projects involve 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS) of rat and mouse brain, high resolution in vivo MR microscopy of the rodent brain, functional magnetic resonance imaging using echo-planar imaging (EPI) and cardiac and fluid flow dynamics. All of these applications (but especially 1HMRS and EPI) are dependent on careful gradient shim corrections to establish adequate field uniformity during acquisitions. Our current installed shim set is flawed due to weak shimming power and temperature instability resulting in local field inhomogeneity and significant frequency drift during acquisitions. We are therefore requesting funds for a new B-GA 12 Gradient Set with an internal Shim Set which is temperature stabilized with active water cooling. Clearly, the narrowed spectral line widths, and improved main field stability and overall field uniformity that this upgrade will provide will improve across the board the quality of all MR imaging acquisitions that are done in the facility and thus, benefit all users of our 9.4T MRI instrument. However, the greatest benefit of the requested shim set will be in the area of in vivo 1HMRS in the rat and mouse brain which include the majority of our users' research applications and focus. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The relevance of this research to public health is that the requested instrument will enable studies in transgenic mouse models of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and depression and thus help enhance our understanding of processes leading to the diseases and ultimately to their treatment and prevention.