1H/31P双核并行磁共振成像线圈的研究与设计

本文通过对鸟笼线圈原理和阵列线圈去耦原理的分析，提出了一种适用于自主研发的多核并行磁共振成像（MRI）系统的双核并行成像线圈设计方案，并在电感去耦的基础上提出LC并联trap去耦法，提高了去耦方法的可适性．依据设计方案制作了¹H/³¹P双核并行成像线圈，并将其应用于4.7 T磁体系统，利用自主研发的多核并行MRI系统进行了并行成像实验测试，成功获得了¹H和³¹P的并行磁共振图像，验证了设计方案的可行性．     

Bi系高温超导磁共振成像射频接收线圈的成像研究

射频接收线圈是磁共振成像系统输入通道的第一级,提高接收线圈的信噪比可以提高系统的图像质量.对于低场磁共振成像系统,如果能够降低常规铜接收线圈的等效串联电阻,就能够提高其信噪比.由于高温超导材料的直流电阻为零,交流传输损耗也远小于铜,采用高温超导材料制作磁共振接收线圈能够提高信噪比.本文采用Bi2223带材,设计、制作了超导接收线圈,并在0.23 T的磁共振成像系统中进行了成像实验.结果表明,超导接收线圈的图像信噪比比常规铜线圈提高约76%.     

高场磁共振成像1H/31P双调谐射频线圈研究进展

在众多可产生磁共振现象的原子核中,¹H核凭借其在生物体中含量高、磁共振信号强的优势,成为磁共振成像的主要研究对象．但其它杂核在生命科学相关研究中同样具有不可替代的独特性,如³¹P核广泛参与了生物体内的能量代谢过程,是非质子成像研究领域的重要内容．MRI向更高场强的发展使得杂核成像逐渐普及,其核心部件是高质量的¹H/³¹P双调谐射频线圈．本文总结了与¹H/³¹P双调谐射频线圈相关的研究与应用,展示了9.4 T下小鼠脑的质子磁共振成像及磁共振磷谱,并讨论了高场¹H/³¹P双调谐射频线圈的潜在应用价值．     

低场MRI系统中2通道脊椎线圈的研制

实现了用于低场磁共振成像系统的２通道脊椎线圈,它的基本结构是两个8字型的表面线圈．另外,讨论了射频线圈的去耦问题,最后在永磁0.3T磁共振成像系统上进行了实验．     

一种减小梯度线圈产生的涡流的方法

从原理上分析了减小梯度线圈的半径可以减小其在带抗涡流板磁体中引起的涡流.然后采用目标场方法设计了一组半径缩减的梯度线圈，并用Biot-Savart定理计算了这个梯度线圈的梯度线性区.最后通过磁共振成像实验证明了原理中分析得出的结论. 关键词： 梯度线圈 涡流 目标场 流函数     

一种可拆装式的脑外科手术用磁共振成像线圈

在临床磁共振成像(MRI)应用中,射频线圈的设计是非常关键的,针对不同的应用目的,合适的线圈能获得质量更好的图像. 有的应用需要线圈提供均匀性较好的射频场,而有的应用则需要线圈在特定区域内提供高的信噪比(SNR). 但是线圈很难同时得到好的射频场（B₁场）、空间均匀性和高的SNR,需要根据实际应用情况进行折衷设计. 针对MRI在脑外科手术中的应用特点,设计并制作了一种新颖的、适用于脑外科手术的MRI接收和发射共用射频线圈. 该线圈采用可分拆式结构,在脑外科手术支架上可以进行反复组装和拆卸,减少了MRI对医生手术的影响. 仿真结果和人体成像实验表明,该线圈能产生均匀的射频场、有较高的SNR和较大的成像范围,满足脑外科手术的需要.     

频率校正方法在活体肝脏1H磁共振波谱中的应用

主要探讨频率校正技术在活体肝脏1H磁共振波谱的应用价值.肝脏单体素¹H 磁共振波谱采用PRESS序列,频率位移分析和校正基于频域谱的残余水峰. 结果表明,5例健康志愿者频率变化的标准偏差为7.92±4.12 Hz; 采用频率校正方法处理后, 残余水峰和脂肪峰(-(CH₂)_n-)的谱线明显变窄,信噪比得到一定程度的改善. 因此频率校正技术可以改善活体肝脏¹H磁共振波谱的谱质量,从而增加磁共振波谱在肝脏病变评价中的准确性.     

基于同伦l0范数最小化重建的三维动态磁共振成像

高欠采倍数的动态磁共振图像重建具有重要意义,是同时实现高时间分辨率和高空间分辨率动态对比度增强成像的重要环节.本研究提出一种结合黄金角变密度螺旋采样、并行成像和基于同伦l₀范数最小化的压缩感知的图像重建的三维动态磁共振成像方法.黄金角变密度螺旋采样轨迹被用来连续获取k空间数据,具有数据采集效率高、对运动不敏感等优点.在重建算法中,将多线圈稀疏约束应用于时间总变分域,使用基于l₀范数最小化的非线性重建算法代替传统的l₁范数最小化算法,进一步提高了欠采样率.仿真实验和在体实验表明本文所提的方法在保持图像质量的同时,也可以实现较高的空间分辨率和时间分辨率,初步验证了基于同伦l₀范数最小化重建在三维动态磁共振成像上的优势和临床价值.     

基于粒子群与遗传算法的矩阵式梯度线圈优化设计

磁共振成像系统中的梯度线圈产生用于选层、频率编码和相位编码的梯度磁场.目前常用的梯度线圈是通过目标场法设计得到的.近些年来,由多个形状相同的线圈组成的矩阵式梯度线圈的梯度磁场均匀度和功率等指标也达到了较为满意的效果.本文首先提出了一种基于粒子群与遗传算法的、适用于开放式永磁型磁共振成像系统的矩阵式梯度线圈设计方法.然后对三个方向上的矩阵梯度线圈的电流分布进行了设计,每个方向上的矩阵式梯度线圈系统由224个大小相同的圆形线圈组成.最后利用有限元仿真软件对设计方案进行仿真计算,得到x、y方向上的平均非均匀度为0.851%,z方向上的平均非均匀度为1.013%,验证了本文提出的方法的有效性.基于该方法可以有效快速地对开放式磁共振成像系统的矩阵梯度线圈进行设计.     

MRI评价药物投递性能方法研究

采用MRI评价自制肝组织特异性非离子型高分子磁共振造影剂在小鼠体内药物投递效果. 分别在注射造影剂后0.1 h、6 h、12 h、24 h及7天采集磁共振T₁加权图像. 所有扫描均在1.5T临床磁共振成像仪上完成, 以固定体线圈为射频发射线圈, 三英寸圆形表面线圈为信号接收线圈. 数据分析前采用线圈非均匀性校正和信号非稳定性校正进行预处理. 实验结果显示,线圈空间敏感性校正使得小鼠组织图像信号强度空间更加均匀,稳定性校正后使得图像数据更加准确可靠,MRI是一种在体评价顺磁性标记高分子化合物药物投递效果的有效方法.     

In vivo K, Na and H MR imaging using a triple resonant RF coil setup

The maintenance of a gradient of potassium and sodium ions across the cell membranes is essential for the physiological function of the mammal organism. The measurement of the spatial distribution of pathologically changing ion concentrations of ²³Na and ³⁹K with magnetic resonance imaging offers a promising approach in clinical diagnostics to measure tissue viability. Existing studies were focused mainly on ²³Na imaging as well as spectroscopy with only one post-mortem study for ³⁹K imaging. In this paper a triple resonant RF coil setup for the rat head at 9.4 T is presented for imaging of both nuclei (²³Na and ³⁹K) and the acquisition of anatomical proton images in the same experiment without moving the subject or the RF coil. In vivo MR images of ³⁹K and ²³Na in the rat brain were acquired as well as anatomical proton images in the same scanning session.     

In vivo sodium-23 magnetic resonance surface coil imaging: Observing experimental cerebral ischemia in the rat

Sodium-23 magnetic resonance imaging can be used to detect and assess experimental cerebral ischemia in the rat. An imaging technique utilizing a surface coil is described to produce sodium magnetic resonance images of good quality and resolution within 10 min. A novel method of hemispheric occlusion showed edema in the right brain of the rat head within 3 hr after injury. The edema was especially pronounced by 12 hr with effects in the right brain, eye and surrounding muscle evident.     

Use of 1H/23Na and 1H/31P double frequency tuned birdcage coils to study in vivo carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

In vivo 1H and 23Na magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) techniques were used to study CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats in situ. One or two hours following exposure to CCl4, a localized edematous region was detected in the liver by 1H MRI. The CCl4-induced edema was localized in a region surrounding the hepatic portal vein. With the use of a 23Na/1H double frequency tuned bird-cage imaging coil an increase in Na+ ion flux was also observed in the same region as the edematous region detected by 1H-MRI. Pretreatment with alpha-phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), a free radical spin trap, 30 min prior to CCl4 exposure, was found to reduce the CCl4-induced edematous response in the liver observed in either 1H or 23Na-NMR images. Inhibition of the CCl4-induced edematous response in rat liver by PBN demonstrates that free radical intermediates, arising from the metabolism of CCl4, are possibly the key causal agents in the initiation of the edematous response. In addition, with the use of a 31P/1H double frequency tuned bird-cage imaging/spectroscopy coil, localized 31P spectra (ISIS) were obtained from the regions of CCl4-induced "tissue damage" observed in the 1H-MRI images. The most notable changes observed from the 31P spectra were an increase in inorganic phosphate (Pi) and a decrease in hepatocytosolic pH in the CCl4-treated rat livers in comparison to saline-treated control livers.     

A practical multinuclear transceiver volume coil for in vivo MRI/MRS at 7 T

A practical multinuclear transceiver RF volume coil with improved efficiency for in vivo small animal ¹H/¹³C/²³Na MR applications at the ultrahigh magnetic field of 7 T is reported. In the proposed design, the coil's resonance frequencies for ¹H and ¹³C are realized by using a traditional double-tuned approach, while the resonant frequency for ²³Na, which is only some 4 MHz away from the ¹³C frequency, is tuned based upon ¹³C channel by easy-operating capacitive “frequency switches”. In contrast to the traditional triple-tuned volume coil, the volume coil with the proposed design possesses less number of resonances, which helps improve the coil efficiency and alleviate the design and operation difficulties. This coil design strategy is advantageous and well suitable for multinuclear MR imaging and spectroscopy studies, particularly in the case where Larmor frequencies of nuclei in question are not separate enough. The prototype multinuclear coil was demonstrated in the desired unshielded design for easy construction and experiment implementation at 7 T. The design method may provide a practical and robust solution to designing multinuclear RF volume coils for in vivo MR imaging and spectroscopy at ultrahigh fields. Finite difference time domain method simulations for evaluating the design and 7-T MR experiment results acquired using the prototype coil are presented.     

An Efficacious Target-Field Approach to Design Shim Coils for Halbach Magnet of Mobile NMR Sensors

The main magnetic fields of mobile nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) magnets differ from those of conventional NMR and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnets. In the Halbach magnet, the main field B ₀ is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the symmetry of the current distribution with respect to the symmetry of the magnetic field differs from that in conventional target-field applications, and the current distribution on the coil surface cannot be expressed in terms of periodic basis functions. To obtain the winding pattern of the coil, an efficacious target-field approach. The surface of a coil is divided into small discrete elements, where each element is represented by a magnetic dipole. From the stream function of the elements, the resultant magnetic field is calculated. The optimization strategy follows an objective function defined by the power dissipation or efficiency of the coil. This leads to the optimum stream function on the coil surface, whose contour lines define the winding patterns of the coil. This paper shows winding patterns designed of shim coils for Halbach magnet and illustrates the craft of a shim coil using flexible printed circuit board. The performance of the coils is verified by simulating the fields they produce over the sensitive volume.     

Noninvasive (1)H and (23)Na nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of ancient Egyptian human mummified tissue

Historic mummies are a unique example of the human desire for immortality. Therefore, it is not surprising that modern diagnostic imaging has been widely applied to study them. Yet, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of such old remains has never been successfully achieved in a noninvasive way without rehydration. Furthermore, the impact of artificial mummification as done in ancient Egypt by natron (a blend of NaCl, Na(2)CO(3), NaHCO(3) and NaP(2)SO(4)) on human tissue with a particular focus on the sodium spatial distribution has never been addressed. Here, we show for the very first time completely noninvasive (1)H and (23)Na imaging of an ancient Egyptian mummified finger by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Protons could be visualized by NMR only in the tissue close to surface and sodium primarily in the bone, while computer tomography images both, soft tissue and bone but does not distinguish between different chemical elements. The selective enrichment of sodium in the bone may by due to postmortem incorporation of (23)Na into the tissue by natron-based mummification because our reference measurement of a historical finger not subjected to artificial mummification showed no sodium signal at all. Our results demonstrate not only the general feasibility of nonclinical MRI to visualize historic dry human tissues but also shows the specific (1)H and (23)Na spatial distributions in such mummy tissue, which is particularly interesting for archeology and may open up a new application for MRI.     

Reproducibility of GABA measurements using 2D J-resolved magnetic resonance spectroscopy

We determined the reproducibility of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) measurements using 2D J-resolved magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) on a clinical 1.5-T MR imaging scanner. Two-dimensional J-resolved spectra were acquired in vitro across five GABA concentrations using a volume head coil and a 5-in. surface coil. Additional spectra using a sixth GABA phantom with a very low concentration and from a healthy volunteer were recorded in the 5-in. surface coil only. In each case, the 3.01-ppm GABA resonance was quantified; for comparison, the peak integrals of choline (3.2 ppm) and creatine (3.03 ppm) were recorded. At a physiological concentration (1.2 mM), in vitro GABA measurement was significantly more reproducible in the surface coil than in the volume coil (P=.005), with coefficients of variation (CVs) being less than 16% with the surface coil and up to 68% with the volume head coil. At the smallest concentration of in vivo GABA reported using other spectroscopy techniques (0.8 mM) and detected only using the surface coil, the CV for GABA was 23% and was less than 10% for choline and creatine, which compare favorably with results from published studies. In vivo, the CV for GABA measurement was 26%, suggesting that 2D J-resolved MRS would be suitable for detecting physiological changes in GABA, similar to those reported using other methods.     

Practical design of a 4 Tesla double-tuned RF surface coil for interleaved 1H and 23Na MRI of rat brain

MRI is proving to be a very useful tool for sodium quantification in animal models of stroke, ischemia, and cancer. In this work, we present the practical design of a dual-frequency RF surface coil that provides (1)H and (23)Na images of the rat head at 4 T. The dual-frequency RF surface coil comprised of a large loop tuned to the (1)H frequency and a smaller co-planar loop tuned to the (23)Na frequency. The mutual coupling between the two loops was eliminated by the use of a trap circuit inserted in the smaller coil. This independent-loop design was versatile since it enabled a separate optimisation of the sensitivity and RF field distributions of the two coils. To allow for an easy extension of this simple double-tuned coil design to other frequencies (nuclei) and dimensions, we describe in detail the practical aspects of the workbench design and MRI testing using a phantom that mimics in vivo conditions. A comparison between our independent-loop, double-tuned coil and a single-tuned (23)Na coil of equal size obtained with a phantom matching in vivo conditions, showed a reduction of the (23)Na sensitivity (about 28 %) because of signal losses in the trap inductance. Typical congruent (1)H and (23)Na rat brain images showing good SNR ((23)Na: brain 7, ventricular cerebrospinal fluid 11) and spatial resolution ((23)Na: 1.25 x 1.25 x 5mm(3)) are also reported. The in vivo SNR values obtained with this coil were comparable to, if not better than, other contemporary designs in the literature.     

MRI Visualization of Small Structures Using Improved Surface Coils

In this paper we present the spatial resolution enhancement and noise reduction level achieved with an optimized inductively coupled surface coil specifically designed for our experiments. The technique of designing and implementing customized coils for magnetic resonance imaging of very small structures is described. We have designed a low cost prototype of an inductively coupled circular surface coil, tuned for ¹H magnetic resonance imaging at 200 MHz. The coil is mounted on a customized teflon support. The inductive coupling used in this coil improves the signal-to-noise ratio by reducing various loss mechanisms (specially the dielectric losses). Test images have been acquired to determine the evolution of induced articular lesions in a rabbit animal model, as well as brain tumors in rats. The images show high spatial resolution, excellent B₁ field homogeneity and no “hot spots”. Comparing these images with those acquired with conventional coils, one finds better spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio, as well as larger field of view with less intense illumination artifact. The methodology can be used in any application that requires high quality imaging of small structures.     

A novel radio frequency coil for veterinary magnetic resonance imaging system

In this article,a novel designed radio frequency (RF) coil is designed and built for the imaging of puppies in a V-shape permanent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system.Two sets of Helmholtz coil pairs with a V-shape structure are used to improve the holding of an animal in the coil.The homogeneity and the sensitivity of the RF field in the coil are analysed by theoretical calculation.The size and the shape of the new coil are optimized and validated by simulation through using the finite element method (FEM).Good magnetic resonance (MR) images are achieved on a shepherd dog.