磁纳米粒子介导的靶向剪切波弹性成像

组织力学特性与其生理病理变化过程密切相关.因此,对组织力学特性的分析有望为疾病诊断提供重要依据.超声弹性成像可以定量分析组织的剪切模量,但在检测的特异性和灵敏度等方面仍存在局限性.针对这一问题,该文发展一种磁纳米粒子介导的靶向剪切波弹性成像新方法.该方法是基于磁纳米粒子在脉冲磁场作用下产生磁致振动,从而导致周围组织的剪...     

Diffraction-biased shear wave fields generated with longitudinal magnetic resonance elastography drivers

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a technique for quantifying the acoustic response of biological tissues to propagating waves applied at low frequencies in order to evaluate mechanical properties. Application-specific MRE drivers are typically required to effectively deliver shear waves within the tissue of interest. Surface MRE drivers with transversely oriented vibrations have often been used to directly generate shear waves. These drivers may have disadvantages in certain applications, such as poor penetration depth and inflexible orientation. Therefore, surface MRE drivers with longitudinally oriented vibrations are used in some situations. The purpose of this work was to investigate and optimize a longitudinal driver system for MRE applications. A cone-like hemispherical distribution of shear waves being generated by these drivers and the wave propagation being governed by diffraction in the near field are shown. Using MRE visualization of the vector displacement field, we studied the properties of the shear wave field created by longitudinal MRE drivers of various sizes to identify optimum shear wave imaging planes. The results offer insights and improvements in both experimental design and imaging plane selection for 2-D MRE data acquisition.     

Identification of cavity fillers in elastic solids using the resonance scattering theory

Elastic waves incident on and scattered by fluid-filled (spherical) cavities in solids are usually described by summed scattering amplitudes. These summed amplitudes, when analysed one partial wave at a time, are seen to consist of two interfering contributions. One is a smooth background corresponding to scattering from an empty cavity, and the other is a superimposed set of resonance ‘spikes’ (lines with narrow width) of the filler fluid. We show in this paper how these modal resonances and their widths can be used to identify the material composition of the filler fluid in a way that resembles the spectroscopic methods used to identify chemical elements by means of their optical spectra.     

H Magnetic resonance imaging of rigid polymeric solids

Implementation of the ¹H magnetic resonance single-point imaging technique has provided new opportunities for the direct imaging of rigid solids, particularly semicrystalline polymers with spin-spin relaxation times, T^*₂, of the order of 10 μs and greater. Potential applications of industrial relevance in the following areas are briefly discussed and illustrated: fabricated/processed parts, photochemical degradation, oxidation, and blend characterization.     

Simulation and analysis of magnetic resonance elastography wave images using coupled harmonic oscillators and Gaussian local frequency estimation.

New methods for simulating and analyzing Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) images are introduced. To simulate a two-dimensional shear wave pattern, the wave equation is solved for a field of coupled harmonic oscillators with spatially varying coupling and damping coefficients in the presence of an external force. The spatial distribution of the coupling and the damping constants are derived from an MR image of the investigated object. To validate the simulation as well as to derive the elasticity modules from experimental MRE images, the wave patterns are analyzed using a Local Frequency Estimation (LFE) algorithm based on Gauss filter functions with variable bandwidths. The algorithms are tested using an Agar gel phantom with spatially varying elasticity constants. Simulated wave patterns and LFE results show a high agreement with experimental data. Furthermore, brain images with estimated elasticities for gray and white matter as well as for exemplary tumor tissue are used to simulate experimental MRE data. The calculations show that already small distributions of pathologically changed brain tissue should be detectable by MRE even within the limit of relatively low shear wave excitation frequency around 0.2 kHz.     

Effect of off-frequency sampling in magnetic resonance elastography

In magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), shear waves at a certain frequency are encoded through bipolar gradients that switch polarity at a controlled encoding frequency and are offset in time to capture wave propagation using a controlled sampling frequency. In brain MRE, there is a possibility that the mechanical actuation frequency is different from the vibration frequency, leading to a mismatch with encoding and sampling frequencies. This mismatch can occur in brain MRE from causes both extrinsic and intrinsic to the brain, such as scanner bed vibrations or active damping in the head. The purpose of this work was to investigate how frequency mismatch can affect MRE shear stiffness measurements. Experiments were performed on a dual-medium agarose gel phantom, and the results were compared with numerical simulations to quantify these effects. It is known that off-frequency encoding alone results in a scaling of wave amplitude, and it is shown here that off-frequency sampling can result in two main effects: (1) errors in the overall shear stiffness estimate of the material on the global scale and (2) local variations appearing as stiffer and softer structures in the material. For small differences in frequency, it was found that measured global stiffness of the brain could theoretically vary by up to 12.5% relative to actual stiffness with local variations of up to 3.7% of the mean stiffness. It was demonstrated that performing MRE experiments at a frequency other than that of tissue vibration can lead to artifacts in the MRE stiffness images, and this mismatch could explain some of the large-scale scatter of stiffness data or lack of repeatability reported in the brain MRE literature.     

Effects of gadoxetic acid on liver elasticity measurement by using magnetic resonance elastography

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) on measurements of liver stiffness by using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). In this study, 104 consecutive patients (mean age, 67.7±9.4 years) underwent MRE using a 1.5-T MR scanner equipped with a cylindrical passive driver that was placed across the right chest wall for delivering vibrations. Axial gradient-echo images, which were automatically converted to elastograms that represented stiffness (kPa), were acquired using a continuous sinusoidal vibration of 60 Hz. Two raters independently placed a region of interest on the right lobe of the liver on the elastograms obtained before and after Gd-EOB-DTPA was administered. Liver stiffness was measured using these two elastograms and compared using a paired t test and correlation analysis. No significant difference was observed in liver stiffness before and after Gd-EOB-DTPA was administered (Rater 1, P=.1200; Rater 2, P=.3585). The correlation coefficients were 0.986 (Rater 1) and 0.984 (Rater 2), indicating excellent correlation between the stiffness values before and after Gd-EOB-DTPA was administered. Liver stiffness measured by MRE did not differ before and after Gd-EOB-DTPA was administered.     

Assessment of stiffness changes in the ex vivo porcine aortic wall using magnetic resonance elastography

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a noninvasive phase-contrast technique for estimating the mechanical properties of tissues by imaging propagating mechanical waves within the tissue. In this study, we hypothesize that changes in arterial wall stiffness, experimentally induced by formalin fixation, can be measured using MRE in ex vivo porcine aortas. In agreement with our hypothesis, the significant stiffness increase after sample fixation was clearly demonstrated by MRE and confirmed by mechanical testing. The results indicate that MRE can be used to examine the stiffness changes of the aorta. This study has provided evidence of the effectiveness of using MRE to directly assess the stiffness change in aortic wall. The results offer motivation to pursue MRE as a noninvasive method for the evaluation of arterial wall mechanical properties.     

On magnetic resonance and neutron scattering investigations of proton transport in solids

A critique of studies of transport in photon-conducting solid electrolytes by NMR relaxation time measurements, pulsed field gradient NMR diffusion measurements and quasielastic scattering of neutrons is presented. The capabilities of each method are outlined and the various results are interrelated. Interpretational problems specific to proton conductors are highlighted.     

Convertible pneumatic actuator for magnetic resonance elastography of the brain

Here we present a novel pneumatic actuator design for brain magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Magnetic resonance elastography is a phase contrast technique capable of tracing strain wave propagation and utilizing this information for the calculation of mechanical properties of materials and living tissues. In MRE experiments, the acoustic waves are generated in a synchronized way with respect to image acquisition, using various types of mechanical actuators. The unique feature of the design is its simplicity and flexibility, which allows reconfiguration of the actuator for different applications ranging from in vivo brain MRE to experiments with phantoms. Phantom and in vivo data are presented to demonstrate actuator performance.     

Positive contrast visualization for cellular magnetic resonance imaging using susceptibility-weighted echo-time encoding

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate a method to generate positive contrast, selective to superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) labeled cells, using the susceptibility-weighted echo-time encoding technique (SWEET).

Materials and Methods

SPIO-labeled human epidermal carcinoma (KB) cells were placed in a gel phantom. Positive contrast from the labeled cells was created by subtraction between conventional spin-echo images and echo-time shifted susceptibility-weighted images. SPIO-labeled cells were injected into the left dorsal flank and hind limb of nude mice, and unlabeled cells were placed on the right side as controls. Tumor growth was monitored using the proposed method, and a histological analysis was used to confirm the presence of the labeled cells.

Results

Based on in vitro testing, we could detect 5000 labeled cells at minimum and the number of pixels with positive contrast increased proportionally to the number of labeled cells. Animal experiments also revealed the presence of tumor growth from SPIO-loaded cells.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that the proposed method, based on the simple principle of echo-time shift, could be readily implemented in a clinical scanner to visualize the magnetic susceptibility effects of SPIO-loaded cells through a positive-contrast mechanism.     

Dynamic H nuclear magnetic resonance of rotating solids

The sensitivity of one-dimensional dynamic magic-angle spinning (MAS) and off-MAS ²H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra to changes in the parameters of jump-type molecular motions is studied. The Floquet theory approach is used to simulate spectra of spins with I = 1, which are involved in exchange processes in rotating solids. The solution of the Bloch-McConnell equations for rotating samples are derived and some simulated frequency spectra are shown. The dependence of the lineshapes of the center and sidebands of the MAS and off-MAS spectra on the exchange parameters are discussed. Experimental results of ²H spectra of perdeuterated dimethyl sulfone, obtained in the temperature range 20–55 °C, are demonstrated. The methyl groups in this molecule undergo π flips at rates that can be detected by MAS and off-MAS NMR. The shapes of the experimental sidebands are compared with simulated results.     

Polarization of plane wave propagating inside elastic hexagonal system solids

Based on the reported physical parameters for hexagonal system solids,we have calculated the effects of anisotropy on polarization of plane P-wave propagation.Herein we report the results of calculations and the newly observed physical phenomena.It is found that,for a given propagation,if the polarization is parallel to the wave vector,so also to the Poynting vector.In such a case,the phase velocity is identical to the energy velocity;the quasi P-wave degenerates to a pure P-wave along the propagation.It is also noted that if the polarization is parallel to the Poynting vector but not to the wave vector,the propagating wave cannot be a pure P-wave.Furthermore,the polarization in a quasi P-wave may deviate from the wave vector for more than 45°,but the deviation from the Poynting vector is always less than 45°.The energy velocity of a quasi SV-wave can be larger than that of the quasi P-wave in some propagation directions,even though the phase velocity of a quasi SV-wave may never be larger than either the phase velocity or energy velocity of the quasi P-wave.Finally,in case of parameters ε=0 and δ*≠0,the polarization of a quasi P-wave has an observed symmetry at a 45°phase angle.The anisotropy of a hexagonal system solid determines if a pure P-wave can be created and what the propagation direction is for a plane wave propagating inside such a hexagonal system solid.     

Stochastic dipolar recoupling in nuclear magnetic resonance of solids

I describe a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique, called stochastic dipolar recoupling (SDR), that permits continuous experimental control of the character of spin dynamics between coherent and incoherent limits in a system of magnetic dipole-coupled nuclei. In the fully incoherent limit of SDR, spin polarization transfers occur at distance-dependent rates without the quantum mechanical interferences among pairwise dipole-dipole couplings that often limit the feasibility or precision of structural studies of solids by NMR. In addition to facilitating structural studies, SDR represents a possible route to experimental studies of effects of decoherence on the dynamics of quantum many-body systems.     

Stiffness change of the supraspinatus muscle can be detected by magnetic resonance elastography

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) are imaging techniques to measure stiffness of the soft tissue using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound images, respectively. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of the MRE measurement to evaluate the change in supraspinatus (SSP) muscle stiffness before and after rotator cuff tear, and to compare the result with those of SWE. Six swine shoulders were used. The skin and subcutaneous fat were removed, and the stiffness value of the SSP muscle was measured by MRE and SWE. The MRE measurement was performed with 0.3 T open MRI and the vibration from a pneumatic driver system with active driver to a passive driver to create the shear wave in the tissue. The passive driver was placed on the center of the SSP muscle. The stiffness was estimated from the wave images using local frequency estimation methods. In the SWE measurement, the probe of the ultrasound was placed on the center of the SSP muscle. The shear wave propagation speed was measured at a depth of 1 cm from the surface, and the stiffness was calculated. After those measurements, the rotator cuff tendon was detached from the greater tuberosity, and MRE and SWE measurements were then performed in the same manner again. The differences in the stiffness values were compared between before and after the rotator cuff tendon tear on both the MRE and SWE measurements. The results indicated that stiffness values on MRE and SWE were 9.3 ± 1.8 and 10.0 ± 1.2 kPa respectively before the rotator cuff tear, and 7.3 ± 1.3 and 8.0 ± 0.8 kPa respectively after the tendon detachment. Stiffness values were significantly lower after the tendon detachment on both the MRE and SWE measurements (p < 0.05). Our results demonstrated that stiffness values of the SSP muscle on MRE and SWE were lower after rotator cuff detachment. From this result, MRE may be a feasible method for quantification of the change in rotator cuff muscle stiffness.     

Holographic visualization of flaws using magnetic stressing

A method of magnetic stressing is described. The results of holographic non-destructive testing using magnetic stressing are also reported.     

用超声背向散射谱定征柱状固体的弹性常数

根据流体中圆柱固体对超声波的背向散射谱与固体弹性参数的密切关系,本提出了材料弹性参数测量的一种新方法－超声背向散射谱法;测量了铜合金杆和铝合金杆的超声背向散射谱,并反演得到了它们的杨氏模量和泊松比。和传统的静力学方法相比,超声背向散射法测得的数据较精确,且对被测材料不会造成任何损伤。     

Hysteresis and memory of the magnetic resonance of conduction electrons in solids. From bistability to stochastic resonance

The magnetic resonance line of conduction electrons in solids may exhibit bistable hysteresis if several conditions are fulfilled. Its mechanism is presented and the manifestation of bistability in the ESR of conduction electrons in single crystal and polycrystalline samples is discussed. The characteristics of the dynamics of the bistability show that bistable resonance can be assimilated to one-dimensional overdamped motion of the spin system in the nuclear field space, driven by a bistable potential. It is shown for the first time that noise acting on this bistable resonance can create order, by the phenomenon of stochastic resonance.