Upgrade of an 11T/40cm MRI/S System

描述(由申请人提供)：我们请求为佛罗里达大学高级磁共振成像和光谱设施中的11.1T，40厘米口径磁铁升级控制台和小动物处理系统。这种独特的仪器是同类仪器中磁场最高的。该磁体系统为从啮齿动物到小型灵长类动物的活动物提供了出色的磁共振成像和光谱。然而，目前的游戏机已有10年的历史，将不再支持这一快速变化和改进的研究领域的最新软件和硬件进步。这次升级将允许用户在该磁体系统上进行许多新的测量，包括用于提高时间分辨率和灵敏度的快速并行成像，以及用于更大样本的多发射器和接收器的改进的高频体积成像。我们还将购买一个小型动物处理系统，这将使动物更有效和稳定地放置在磁铁中，并提高动物在磁铁中的位置稳定性。这些升级将显著加强NIH资助的几个利用该仪器的项目，包括跟踪动物干细胞、监测基因治疗治疗、在动物模型中对癫痫进行成像、开发用于胰岛素分泌的移植细胞，以及用于改进癌症治疗的肿瘤体内光谱。该仪器还支持国家高磁场实验室(NHMFL)生物外部用户计划，NHMFL资金将用于为新控制台提供新线圈和额外的工程支持。 与公众健康相关：在这项提案中，要求对独特的11.1T磁体系统进行重大技术升级，这将促进活体动物磁共振成像和光谱技术的当前和未来进步，以支持我们由NIH资助的项目。在研究人类疾病的动物模型时，先进的磁共振成像和光谱技术是不可或缺的。但这些相同的技术有朝一日可能会被用来通过磁共振成像和光谱学来推进人类诊断。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We request a console upgrade and a small-animal handling system for the 11.1 T, 40 cm bore magnet in the Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Facility of the University of Florida. This unique instrument is the highest-field magnet of its kind. The magnet system has provided outstanding magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of living animals from rodents to small primates. However the current console is 10 years old and will no longer support the latest software and hardware advances in this rapidly changing and improving research area. The upgrade will allow users to perform many new measurements on this magnet system including rapid parallel imaging for improved time-resolution and sensitivity enhancements and improved high-frequency volume imaging with multiple transmitters and receivers for larger samples. We will also purchase a small animal handling system that will allow much more efficient and stable placement of animals into the magnet and improved position stability of the animal while in the magnet. These upgrades will significantly enhance several NIH-funded projects that utilize the instrument including tracking of stem cells in animals, monitoring gene therapy treatment, imaging epilepsy in animal models, development of implanted cells for insulin secretion, and in vivo spectroscopy of tumors for improved cancer therapy. The instrument also supports the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) biological external user program and NHMFL funds will be utilized to provide new coils and additional engineering support for the new console. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: In this proposal, the significant technology upgrade requested for the unique 11.1 T magnet system will facilitate current and future advances in MR imaging and spectroscopy of live animals in support of our NIH- funded projects. Advanced MR imaging and spectroscopy techniques are indispensable in the study of animal models of human disease. But these same techniques may one day be used to advance human diagnosis with MR imaging and spectroscopy.