高场超导MRI系统铁磁屏蔽的几何优化

磁共振成像（MRI）系统是一种重要的医学影像诊断设备,它根据核磁共振原理对处于静磁场中的人体器官进行成像,具有清晰度高和任意层面成像等优点,在医学检查和诊断方面有着重要的作用,与低场MRI相比,高场MRI系统可提高质子的磁化率,增加图像的信噪比,缩短MRI信号采集时间,从而使脑功能成像的信号变化更为明显;但是较高的背景...     

早期乳腺肿瘤的超宽带微波稳健波束形成成像检测系统

提出了一种基于自主设计小型超宽带天线的微波稳健波束形成(RCB)成像肿瘤检测系统.仿真结果表明,该检测系统对肿瘤反射信号有很高的敏感度.在简单平面模型和核磁共振成像图(MRI)导出模型中进行仿真检测实验,并将天线阵列接收信号用RCB算法进行成像处理.从乳房重构图像中能够得到正确的肿瘤位置及大小信息,实现了平面模型中最小直径3 mm和MRI导出模型中最小直径4 mm的肿瘤检测,证实了该检测系统用于早期乳腺肿瘤检测的可行性.     

基于神经网络拟合的腹部化学交换饱和转移成像

磁共振成像（Magnetic Resonance Imaging，MRI）化学交换饱和转移（Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer，CEST）技术在临床诊断中展现了巨大的潜力，但在腹部成像中受到主磁场偏移量大的挑战，而且利用传统的非对称性分析法得到的酰胺质子转移（Amide Proton Transfer，APT）成像对比度受到核奥氏增强（Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement，NOE）效应的干扰.本文提出了一种基于神经网络拟合的CEST后处理方法，对每个像素采集得到的Z谱特征进行识别，不需要额外序列扫描即可得到背景参考Z谱与主磁场偏移量，用以校正和获得理想的Z谱，并进一步分离得到源自APT效应与NOE效应的信号.鸡蛋清和健康志愿者腹部成像结果显示，本文提出的基于神经网络的CEST后处理方法效果较好.     

定量磁化率成像重建方法及其应用

磁共振成像(MRI)中,相位图像包含丰富的组织磁化率变化信息,获取相位图像不需要额外的扫描时间．组织中的顺磁性物质会影响组织磁化率差异,从而导致局部磁场不均匀．对组织内顺磁性物质的定量有利于许多脑血管疾病和神经系统疾病的诊断,但利用局部相位信息重建组织磁化率分布是一个不适定逆问题,目前仍然有许多问题亟待解决．该文着重介绍定量磁化率成像(QSM)的原理、重建方法及其在MRI 中的应用．     

基于multisine激励与整周期采样的多频电阻抗成像系统设计

本文从周期信号的整周期采样无频谱泄露这一原理出发,提出基于multisine信号的整周期采样理论,从理论上推导出满足multisine整周期采样的采样率设置条件,构建了基于FPGA+数模转换器+模数转换器的整周期采样实现方法,研制了一种基于multisine激励和整周期采样的新型多频电阻抗成像(mfEIT)系统;设计了胡萝卜棒+黄瓜棒的双目标成像模型,并进行了多频时差成像和频差成像实验.实验表明,本mfEIT系统能够在一个基波周期(1 ms)内实现20个频率点(2—997 kHz)多目标组织边界的全频阻抗测量,成像结果可区分具有不同电特性生物组织的结构与位置.本文提出的基于multisine信号的整周期采样理论及其实现方法,只需一个multisine基波周期即可完成一次全频阻抗测量,为研制高速mfEIT系统奠定了理论和技术基础.     

合成孔径激光成像雷达散斑效应分辨单元成像研究

分析了合成孔径激光成像雷达(SAIL)受散斑效应影响的分辨单元成像过程并推导了含有散斑效应的二维数据收集方程。在此基础上通过数值模拟分析比较了不同接收天线尺寸、不同天线积分起点位置情况下散斑效应对成像所需的光电流交流项、距离向压缩和最终分辨单元成像结果的影响。结果表明散斑效应对分辨单元成像的影响主要体现在降低了分辨单元的图像强度,同时不同天线尺寸和天线积分位置对分辨单元的成像影响差异较大。分析结果可为今后SAIL散斑效应的抑制提供一定的参考。     

一种用于fMRI的温度觉刺激装置的设计与验证

介绍了一种用于功能磁共振成像(f MRI)的温度觉刺激装置的设计与验证,该装置能够用于f MRI温度觉的脑功能研究,满足温度觉f MRI实验的自动化刺激要求.整个刺激装置设计了以微控制器为核心的控制电路,通过数据采集卡能够与上位机Lab VIEW软件进行数据通讯,并将获取的数据通过特定的串口协议传递给数字PID温控模块,实现对刺激端温度的精确调控.最后,使用该刺激装置对多名被试进行了温度觉的脑功能实验,实验结果验证了该设计的可行性.     

核磁共振成像一维空间编码教学实验

利用梯度磁场实现检测信号的空间编码,是核磁共振成像(MRI)的关键技术.本文采用ccc系列样品将二维问题简化为一维,使用超小型教学用核磁共振成像仪进行了一维空间编码实验研究,并对实验过程及实验结果进行了计算模拟和分析.     

基于合成频率步进线性调频信号的合成孔径激光雷达成像

为解决合成孔径激光雷达(SAL)所需高重复频率大带宽相干光源问题,提出了合成频率步进线性调频信号(SFSCS)的方案,并进行了基于SFSCS信号SAL(SFSCS-SAL)的成像理论和实验演示研究。采用多台独立的窄带宽高重复频率线性调频激光器构成SFSCS信号,给出了SFSCS-SAL的成像数据方程和图像形成方法。理论分析表明:在一定条件下,SFSCS-SAL的成像处理与常规SAL相同;但是,与单个子脉冲激光器SAL相比,SFSCS-SAL的距离向成像分辨率提高至少N倍(N为构成SFSCS的独立激光器数目)。实验演示中,利用一台1550nm波段的线性调波长激光器,通过光学斩波的方法模拟生成了子脉冲数为3的SFSCS信号。以此SFSCS信号作为探测光源,建立了SFSCS-SAL实验装置,对强散射目标和弱散射扩展目标,均实现了高分辨率成像。实验结果与理论分析一致。     

光谱编码成像系统的数据压缩技术

利用时间拉伸显微成像系统观察并记录非重复动态随机现象,在其超高成像速度和高空间分辨率下必定会产生大量的数据。一种基于差分检测和游程编码的数据压缩方法,可以有效地解决时间拉伸成像系统的数据存储问题。差分检测可以消除连续相同的信号,只检测出相邻信号的差异,从而提高游程编码算法的有效性。实验中,采用扫描频率为77.76 MHz的时间拉伸显微成像对分辨率板、人红细胞和人乳腺癌细胞线性扫描成像。实验结果表明,数据压缩比可以达到8.47,对比分析发现经过差分检测方法可以获得更高的压缩比。另外,通过计算重建后的图像与原图的结构相似性(SSIM)值发现,经过数据压缩后高质量的图像可以被重建。     

Euterpe Olerácea (Açaí) as an alternative oral contrast agent in MRI of the gastrointestinal system: preliminary results

Using contrast agents is a common practice in medical imaging protocols. Paramagnetic properties of certain compounds present in contrast agents can affect magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals. For abdominal applications, they are usually injected, but may also be administered orally. However, their use as a routine technique is limited, mainly due to the lack of appropriate oral contrast agents. We herein present the preliminary characterization and results for implementation of Euterpe Olerácea (popularly named A?aí) as a possible clinical oral contrast agent for MRI of the gastrointestinal tract. The pulp of A?aí, a fruit from the Amazon area, presented an increase in T(1)-weighted MRI signal, equivalent to that of gadolinium-diethyltriamine pentaacetic acid, and a decrease in T(2)-weighted images. We looked for intrinsic properties that could be responsible for the T(1) signal enhancement and T(2) opacification. Atomic absorption spectra revealed the presence of Fe, Mn and Cu ions in A?ai. The presence of such ions contribute to the susceptometric value found of chi = -4.83 x 10(-6). This finding assents with the hypothesis that image contrast changes were due to the presence of paramagnetic material. The first measurements in vivo demonstrate a clear increase of contrast, in T(1)-weighted images, due to the presence of A?aí. Consistently, the opacification in a T(2)-weighted acquisition was evident, revealing a good contrast on bowel walls of gastric tissues.     

Effects of hypoglycemia on human brain activation measured with fMRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure the effects of acute hypoglycemia caused by passive sensory stimulation on brain activation. Visual stimulation was used to generate blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) contrast, which was monitored during hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemic and euglycemic clamp studies. Hypoglycemia (50 +/- 1 mg glucose/dl) decreased the fMRI signal relative to euglycemia in 10 healthy human subjects: the fractional signal change was reduced by 28 +/- 12% (P < .05). These changes were reversed when euglycemia was restored. These data provide a basis of comparison for studies that quantify hypoglycemia-related changes in fMRI activity during cognitive tasks based on visual stimuli and demonstrate that variations in blood glucose levels may modulate BOLD signals in the healthy brain.     

Intravascular photoacoustic imaging of lipid in atherosclerotic plaques in the presence of luminal blood

Intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging can characterize atherosclerotic plaque composition on the basis of the optical absorption contrast between different tissue types. Given the high optical absorption of lipid at 1720 nm wavelength, an atherosclerotic rabbit aorta was imaged at this wavelength ex vivo using an integrated intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and IVPA imaging catheter in the presence of luminal blood. Strong optical absorption of lipid combined with low background signal from other tissues provides a high-contrast, depth-resolved IVPA image of lipid. The ability to image lipid at a single wavelength without removing luminal blood suggests that in vivo detection of lipid in atherosclerotic plaques using combined IVUS/IVPA imaging is possible.     

Sensitivity to local dipole fields in the CRAZED experiment: an approach to bright spot MRI

Local dipole fields such as those created by small iron-oxide particles are used to produce regions of low intensity (dark contrast) in many molecular magnetic resonance imaging applications. We have investigated, with computer simulations and experiments at 17.6 T, how the COSY revamped with asymmetric z-gradient echo detection (CRAZED) experiment that selects intermolecular double-quantum coherences can also be used to visualize such local dipole fields. Application of the coherence-selection gradient pulses parallel to the main magnetic field produced similar, dark contrast as conventional gradient echo imaging. Application of the gradient along the magic angle leads to total loss of signal intensity in homogeneous samples. In the presence of local dipole fields, the contrast was inverted and bright signals from the dipoles were observed over a very low background. Both simulations and experiments showed that the signal strongly decreased when a phase-cycle suppressing single-quantum coherences was employed. Therefore, we conclude that most of the signal comes from directly refocused magnetization or intermolecular single-quantum coherences. Finally, we demonstrate that bright contrast from local dipole fields can also be obtained, when the pair of coherence-selection gradient pulses is deliberately mismatched. Both methods allowed visualization of local dipole fields in phantoms in experimental times of about 3 min.     

Failure to direct detect magnetic field dephasing corresponding to ERP generation

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become the method of choice for mapping brain activity in human subjects and detects changes in regional blood oxygenation and volume associated with local changes in neuronal activity. While imaging based on blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast has good spatial resolution and sensitivity, the hemodynamic signal develops relatively slowly and is only indirectly related to neuronal activity. An alternative approach termed magnetic source magnetic resonance imaging (msMRI) is based on the premise that neural activity may be mapped by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with greater temporal resolution by detecting the local magnetic field perturbations associated with local neuronal electric currents. We used a hybrid ms/BOLD MRI method to investigate whether msMRI could detect signal changes that occur simultaneously at the time of the production of well-defined event-related potentials, the P300 and N170, in regions that previously have been identified as generators of these electrical signals. Robust BOLD activations occurred after some seconds, but we were unable to detect any significant changes in the T2*-weighted signal in these locations that correlated temporally with the timings of the evoked response potentials (ERPs).     

Relaxation times and NMR signals

The strength of signals in magnetic resonance imaging (and the resulting image contrast) depends not just on the number density of the nuclei being detected, but also on the relaxation times, T1 and T2. The relationship of signal strength to relaxation time depends on the particular choice of pulse sequences used to produce the signals. The effects of the T1 relaxation time on signal strength are discussed for the commonly used imaging techniques "partial saturation" and "inversion recovery." Production of spin echos and the effect of the T2 relaxation time on spin-echo signal strength are also discussed.     

Variable flip angle imaging and fat suppression in combined gradient and spin-echo (GREASE) techniques

Conventional "proton density" and "T2-weighted" spin-echo images are susceptible to motion induced artifact, which is exacerbated by lipid signals. Gradient moment nulling can reduce motion artifact but lengthens the minimum TE, degrading the "proton density" contrast. We designed a pulse sequence capable of optimizing proton density and T2-weighted contrast while suppressing lipid signals and motion induced artifacts. Proton density weighting was obtained by rapid readout gradient reversal immediately after the excitation RF pulse, within a conventional spin-echo sequence. By analyzing the behavior of the macroscopic magnetization and optimizing excitation flip angle, we suppressed T1 contribution to the image, thereby enhancing proton density and T2-weighted contrast with a two- to four-fold reduction of repetition time. This permitted an increased number of averages to be used, reducing motion induced artifacts. Fat suppression in the presence of motion was investigated in two groups of 8 volunteers each by (i) modified Dixon technique, (ii) selective excitation, and (iii) hybrid of both. Elimination of fat signal by the first technique was relatively uniform across the field of view, but it did not fully suppress the ghosts originating from fat motion. Selective excitation, while sensitive to the main field inhomogeneity, largely eliminated the ghosts (0.21 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.29 +/- 0.06, p less than 0.01). The hybrid of both techniques combined with bandwidth optimization, however, showed the best results (0.17 +/- 0.04, p less than 0.001). Variable flip-angle imaging allows optimization of image contrast which, along with averaging and effective fat suppression, significantly improves gradient- and spin-echo imaging, particularly in the presence of motion.     

Comparison of laser Doppler and laser speckle contrast imaging using a concurrent processing system

Full field laser Doppler imaging (LDI) and single exposure laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) are directly compared using a novel instrument which can concurrently image blood flow using both LDI and LSCI signal processing. Incorporating a commercial CMOS camera chip and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) the flow images of LDI and the contrast maps of LSCI are simultaneously processed by utilizing the same detected optical signals. The comparison was carried out by imaging a rotating diffuser. LDI has a linear response to the velocity. In contrast, LSCI is exposure time dependent and does not provide a linear response in the presence of static speckle. It is also demonstrated that the relationship between LDI and LSCI can be related through a power law which depends on the exposure time of LSCI.     

Chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI using intermolecular double-quantum coherences with multiple refocusing pulses

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) provides a new type of image contrast in MRI. Due to the intrinsically low CEST effect, new and improved experimental techniques are required to achieve reliable and quantitative CEST images. In the present work, we proposed a novel and more sensitive CEST acquisition approach, based on the intermolecular double-quantum coherence with a module of multiple refocusing pulses (iDQC-MRP). Experiments were performed on creatine and egg white phantoms using a Varian 7 T animal MRI scanner. The iDQC-MRP CEST technique showed a substantial enhancement in CEST and nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) signal intensities, compared to the standard single-quantum coherence approach. In addition, the iDQC-MRP approach increased the signal-to-noise ratio of acquired saturation images, compared to the conventional iDQC approach. The new iDQC-MRP CEST sequence provides a promising way for exploiting in vivo CEST and NOE imaging applications.     

Automated correction of unwanted phase jumps in reference signals which corrupt MRSI spectra after eddy current correction

A commonly applied step in the postprocessing of gradient localized proton MR spectroscopy, is correction for eddy current effects using the water signal as a reference. However, this method can degrade some of the metabolite signals, in particular if applied on proton MR spectroscopic imaging data. This artifact arises from the water reference signal in the presence of a second signal which resonates close to the main water resonance. The interference of both resonances will introduce jumps in the phase of the reference time domain signal. Using this phase for eddy current correction will result in a ringing artifact in the frequency domain of the metabolite signal over the whole frequency range. We propose a moving window correction algorithm, which screens the phase of reference signals and removes phase jumps in time domain caused by interference of signals from multiple spin systems. The phase jumps may be abrupt or gradually distributed over several time data points. Because the correction algorithm only corrects time data points which contain phase jumps, the phase is minimally disrupted. Furthermore, the algorithm is automated for large datasets, correcting only those water reference signals which are corrupted. After correction of the corrupted reference signals, normal eddy current correction may be performed. The algorithm is compared with a method which uses a low-pass filter and tested on simulated data as well as on in vivo proton spectroscopic imaging data from a healthy volunteer and from patients with a brain tumor.