Ultrasonic heating of the skull

Comparatively simple analysis shows that diagnostic ultrasound devices, in some cases, may approach output levels that can produce significant heating of tissues, particularly if the propagation path includes bone. Experimental tests of these predictions using rodents show that temperature increments of the order of 3 degrees C/W/cm2 are produced in skull bone with sharply focused fields at medically relevant frequencies.     

Experimental analysis of the vibrational characteristics of the human skull

Analytical models of the human skull structure have generally been constructed so as to characterize the gross geometric features and material properties; however, a model should also have accurate frequency response characteristics since these are essential for collision and head injury analyses. An experimental investigation was conducted to identify the dynamic characteristics of freely vibrating human skulls. Resonant frequencies and associated mode shapes in the frequency band from 20 Hz to 5000 Hz were delineated for two dry human skulls. Osteometrically, one skull corresponds to a 50th percentile male (skull 1) and the second is representative of a 5th percentile female skull (skull 2). Digital Fourier analysis techniques were used to identify the resonant frequencies and corresponding mode shapes of each skull. Eleven resonant frequencies were identified for skull 1, with the lowest being 1385 Hz. In contrast, skull 2 exhibited only 6 resonant frequencies with the first being 1641 Hz. Nine mode shapes were identified for skull 1, but only 5 modes were recognized for skull 2. The vibrational pattern of the human skull, as indicated by its mode shapes in this limited study, seems to be a unique property of a particular skull. Skull satures did not appear to influence the modal pattern.     

MRI of the normal hippocampus.

Before it is possible to use MR imaging to investigate changes in the hippocampus in disease processes such as epilepsy and memory disorders, it is imperative that normal variations are defined. Using specific anatomic locations, we evaluated the hippocampi of 29 normal volunteers with coronal MR studies. Mild variations occur with regard to hippocampal size and shape, and hippocampal fissure visualization. Hippocampal signal intensity is isointense to cortical gray matter. Recognition of normally occurring variations should help prevent over-interpretation of hippocampal changes in pathologic disorders.     

MRI angiography of the carotid artery

Spin echo images of the carotid arteries in longitudinal view have been obtained by selection of oblique imaging planes. Blood flow within the lumen in the region of the carotid bifurcation has been visualized through the use of cardiac gating during end diastole. Using a surface coil placed about the mandible, high resolution images [(0.75 mm)² per pixel) were obtained with scan times typically equal to 9 min and image data matrix equal to 256 × 256. Images obtained with this technique of MRI carotid angiography demonstrate blood flow phenomenon as well as vascular anatomy.     

Enhanced ultrasound transmission through the human skull using shear mode conversion

A new transskull propagation technique, which deliberately induces a shear mode in the skull bone, is investigated. Incident waves beyond Snell's critical angle experience a mode conversion from an incident longitudinal wave into a shear wave in the bone layers and then back to a longitudinal wave in the brain. The skull's shear speed provides a better impedance match, less refraction, and less phase alteration than its longitudinal counterpart. Therefore, the idea of utilizing a shear wave for focusing ultrasound in the brain is examined. Demonstrations of the phenomena, and numerical predictions are first studied with plastic phantoms and then using an ex vivo human skull. It is shown that at a frequency of 0.74 MHz the transskull shear method produces an amplitude on the order of--and sometimes higher than--longitudinal propagation. Furthermore, since the shear wave experiences a reduced overall phase shift, this indicates that it is plausible for an existing noninvasive transskull focusing method [Clement, Phys. Med. Biol. 47(8), 1219-1236 (2002)] to be simplified and extended to a larger region in the brain.     

Evaluation of the vibrational modes of the human skull as it relates to bone-conducted sound

Analytic and numerical models are used to study bone-conducted sound and how it relates to the vibrational modes of the human skull. The analytic model is based on the solution to the acoustic and elastic wave equations and the constraining boundary conditions for a fluid-filled elastic sphere. Both models predict that most of the acoustic energy of bone-conducted sound exists in the form of surface wave vibrations at the interface between two acoustic media rather than in the bone or cranial chamber. These surface waves have phase speeds much slower than the bulk sound speed for bone. The analytic model, based on spherical elastic shells, predicts a phase speed of 775 m/s and the first resonance frequency at 1500 Hz while the numerical solution yields approximate phase speeds of 450 m/s and provides a visual display of the surface waves and diffraction effects.     

Three-dimensional laser-induced photoacoustic tomography of mouse brain with the skin and skull intact

Three-dimensional laser-induced photoacoustic tomography, also referred to as optoacoustic tomography, is developed to image animal brain structures noninvasively with the skin and skull intact. This imaging modality combines the advantages of optical contrast and ultrasonic resolution. The distribution of optical absorption in a mouse brain is imaged successfully. The intrinsic optical contrast reveals not only blood vessels but also other detailed brain structures, such as the cerebellum, hippocampus, and ventriculi lateralis. The spatial resolution is primarily diffraction limited by the received photoacoustic waves. Imaged structures of the brain at different depths match the corresponding histological pictures well.     

A critique of the concept of MRI centers

A significant proportion of MRI units are being installed in MRI Centers that are free standing enterprises offering outpatient diagnoses separate from hospitals. The development of such Centers represents a challenge to more traditional arrangements and may have serious implications for physician responsibility that depend on their management and administration. In this review several legal and ethical issues arising from the proliferation of such Centers are analyzed and it is argued that regulatory attitudes may need to be altered to avoid major shifts of emphasis in the pattern of use of high cost imaging equipment.     

MRI of an angiomyolipoma

Angiomyolipomas are uncommon, benign tumors of the kidney with certain characteristic diagnostic features. We report a case of this condition in which MRI helped to characterize the lesion.     

Tolerance of MRI procedures by the oldest old

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and discomfort of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures in the oldest-old subjects (age > 90 years) using a survey design in a university-affiliated neuroimaging research center. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-one community-dwelling, elderly subjects were considered for participation. Twenty-nine of them underwent voluntary, extensive MRI scanning (up to 1 h) as part of a project on brain function in the oldest old. Thirteen oldest old (OO, range 90-93 years, mean 92 years) were compared to 16 young old (YO, range 72-80 years, mean 76 years). MEASUREMENTS: Likert-style questionnaire on satisfaction following extensive MRI scanning session (up to 1 h) was administered. Data were analyzed by an analysis of variance (gender by age group). RESULTS: All subjects reported positive experiences with no significant difficulties or concerns. There were minor differences in some rated items, with the OO and males slightly less comfortable than YO and females, respectively. Overall, the OO tolerated the procedures as well as the YO. CONCLUSION: Very long MRI sessions are feasible, even in the oldest-old subjects, and are not associated with any significant discomfort. Prior screening and thorough education of the subjects probably help to minimize anxiety and dropout.     

Application of the chirp z-transform to MRI data

A version of the chirp z-transform (CZT) enabling signal intensity and phase-preserving field-of-view scaling has been programmed. The algorithm is important for all single-point imaging sequences such as SPRITE when used with multiple data acquisition for T2* mapping or signal averaging. CZT has particular utility for SPRITE imaging of nuclei with short relaxation times such as sodium at high field. Here, a complete theory of the properties of CZT is given. This method operates entirely in k-space. It is compared with a conventional interpolation approach that works in image space after the application of a fast Fourier transformation.     

MRI of hepatic lymphoma

Thirteen patients with biopsy proven hepatic lymphoma (2 Hodgkin, 11 Non-Hodgkin) and a control group of 15 patients with hepatic metastases were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by MRI. Focal hepatic lymphoma was most reliably detected (eight of eight patients) and appeared hypointense relative to liver on T₁ weighted (CNR − 7.4 ± 2.3) and hyperintense on T₂ weighted (CNR + 8.4 ± 2.9) images. The mean T₁ and T₂ relaxation times of focal hepatic lymphoma (T₁ = 832 ± 234 msec, T₂ = 84 ± 16 ms) differed significantly from adjacent non-tumorous liver (T₁ = 420 ± 121 ms, T₂ = 51 ± 9 ms; p < 0.05), however CNR values and relaxation times were similar to those of hepatic metastases. Diffuse hepatic lymphoma (microscopic periportal infiltration) was undetectable by MRI in three patients by either morphologic features or quantitative criteria. A mixed pattern of hepatic lymphoma (focal lesions and diffuse infiltration) showed focal areas of slightly decreased signal intensity on T₁ weighted images (CNR = −1.7 ± 0.4) while T₂ weighted images revealed multiple regions of focal hyperintensity (CNR = +13.3 ± 8.4) superimposed on a diffusely hyperintense liver. Our experience demonstrates that either T₁ or T₂ weighted techniques are useful in detecting focal and that T₂ weighted techniques are useful in detecting mixed hepatic lymphoma. Conventional image derived relaxation time measurements and quantitative parameters were of no additional diagnostic value.     

MRI of uterine leiomyosarcoma

We report a case of a patient with uterine leiomyosarcoma. At MR imaging, the patient was found to have a bilobed uterine mass with two components. While the caudal portion of the mass had the MRI appearance of a simple leiomyoma, the cephalad component showed atypical degeneration with an irregular contour. Malignant degeneration of a leiomyoma was confirmed by operative and histologic examination. We conclude that malignant degeneration should be considered on MR images of any degenerated leiomyoma showing an irregular contour.     

高温超导MRI磁体试验样机的设计

对MRI用高温超导磁体试验样机的设计进行了介绍,包括项目的市场需求、磁体的基本参数和系统热负荷的预设计结果等。