Development and initial evaluation of 7-T q-ball imaging of the human brain

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) noninvasively depicts white matter connectivity in regions where the Gaussian model of diffusion is valid but yields inaccurate results in those where diffusion has a more complex distribution, such as fiber crossings. q-ball imaging (QBI) overcomes this limitation of DTI by more fully characterizing the angular dependence of intravoxel diffusion with larger numbers of diffusion-encoding directional measurements at higher diffusion-weighting factors (b values). However, the former technique results in longer acquisition times and the latter technique results in a lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this project, we developed specialized 7-T acquisition methods utilizing novel radiofrequency pulses, eight-channel parallel imaging EPI and high-order shimming with a phase-sensitive multichannel B0 field map reconstruction. These methods were applied in initial healthy adult volunteer studies, which demonstrated the feasibility of performing 7-T QBI. Preliminary comparisons of 3 T with 7 T within supratentorial crossing white matter tracts documented a 79.5% SNR increase for b=3000 s/mm2 (P=.0001) and a 38.6% SNR increase for b=6000 s/mm2 (P=.015). With spherical harmonic reconstruction of the q-ball orientation distribution function at b=3000 s/mm2, 7-T QBI allowed for accurate visualization of crossing fiber tracts with fewer diffusion-encoding acquisitions as compared with 3-T QBI. The improvement of 7-T QBI at b factors as high as 6000 s/mm2 resulted in better angular resolution as compared with 3-T QBI for depicting fibers crossing at shallow angles. Although the increased susceptibility effects at 7 T caused problematic distortions near brain-air interfaces at the skull base and posterior fossa, these initial 7-T QBI studies demonstrated excellent quality in much of the supratentorial brain, with significant improvements as compared with 3-T acquisitions in the same individuals.     

In vivo determination of the time and location of mucoadhesive drug delivery systems disintegration in the gastrointestinal tract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect the time when and the location at which orally delivered mucoadhesive drugs are released. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Drug delivery systems comprising tablets or capsules containing a mucoadhesive polymer were designed to deliver the polymer to the intestine in dry powder form. Dry Gd-DTPA [diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid gadolinium(III) dihydrogen salt hydrate] powder was added to the mucoadhesive polymer, resulting in a susceptibility artifact that allows tracking of the application forms before their disintegration and that gives a strong positive signal on disintegration. Experiments were performed with rats using T(1)-weighted spin-echo imaging on a standard 1.5-T MRI system. RESULTS: The susceptibility artifact produced by the dry Gd-DTPA powder in tablets or capsules was clearly visible within the stomach of the rats and could be followed during movement towards the intestine. Upon disintegration, a strong positive signal was unambiguously observed. The time between ingestion and observation of a positive signal was significantly different for different application forms. Quantification of the remaining mucoadhesive polymer in the intestine 3 h after observed release showed significant differences in mucoadhesive effectiveness. CONCLUSION: MRI allows detection of the exact time of release of the mucoadhesive polymer in vivo, which is a prerequisite for a reliable quantitative comparison between different application forms.     

Sensitive and automated detection of iron-oxide-labeled cells using phase image cross-correlation analysis

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles are increasingly being used to noninvasively track cells, target specific molecules and monitor gene expression in vivo. Contrast changes that are subtle relative to intrinsic sources of contrast present a significant detection challenge. Here, we describe a postprocessing algorithm, called Phase map cross-correlation Detection and Quantification (PDQ), with the purpose of automating identification and quantification of localized accumulations of SPIO agents. The method is designed to sacrifice little flexibility - it works on previously acquired data and allows the use of conventional high-SNR pulse sequences with no extra scan time. We first investigated the theoretical detection limits of PDQ using a simulated dipole field. This method was then applied to three-dimensional (3D) MRI data sets of agarose gel containing isolated dipoles and ex vivo transplanted allogenic rat hearts infiltrated by numerous iron-oxide-labeled macrophages as a result of organ rejection. A simulated dipole field showed this method to be robust in very low signal-to-noise ratio images. Analysis of agarose gel and allogenic rat heart shows that this method can automatically identify and count dipoles while visualizing their biodistribution in 3D renderings. In the heart, this information was used to calculate a quantitative index that may indicate its degree of cellular infiltration.     

人体腿部四层结构的红外热成像有限元分析

为研究人体红外热成像和体内肿瘤热源的关联,本文构建了包括骨层、肌肉层、脂肪层、皮肤层的人体腿部有限元模型。根据体内温度沿径向分布的特点,给出了各区域内动脉血液灌注热生成率随径向坐标变化的情况,解决了有限元建模中动脉血灌注热生成率随温度变化的非线性问题。进而用有限元方法数值计算了不同尺寸和不同深度的体内肿瘤所带来的温度变化。结果表明：在所研究的肿瘤尺寸范围内,肿瘤尺寸越小,体内温度提升越高,体表的峰值温度越高,体表温度分布半峰宽越窄,温度变化越陡峭。对于特定尺寸的肿瘤,肿瘤越深,体内峰值温度越高,体表的峰值温度越低,体表温度分布半峰宽越宽,温度变化越平缓。     

激光遥感偏振成像系统光学元件调整及误差分析

改进了利用双旋转波片方法进行偏振成像的实验装置,提出了通过一次测量获得目标偏振度和强度编码图像的方法.运用光强法对激光遥感偏振成像装置的光学元件进行调整,通过斯托克斯和穆勒矩阵在偏振光学元件中的应用,给出了相应光学元件的调整原理、方法及过程.分析了激光器中心波长变动、偏振片的角度误差和波片的相位延迟及角度误差对整个系统的影响.结果表明,由偏振片角度和波片角度误差造成的出射光斯托克斯误差较小,不超过0.001,可以忽略;由波片相位延迟不精确造成的误差在0.02左右,所以应采用延迟精度较高的波片;激光器中心波长变化的影响最大,不能忽略,必须加滤光片使接收光的中心波长控制在808nm;镀有铝膜望远镜对接收到的散射光偏振度影响较小,适于激光遥感偏振成像系统的应用.     

基于平行平晶的三步相干衍射成像系统

传统单光束多强度重建(SBMIR)系统中,多次平移图像传感器所积累的误差导致光电成像系统的成像效果及有效分辨率降低,为了解决这一问题。本文提出基于平行平晶的三步相干衍射成像系统,采取插入或抽取2块平行平晶的方法获取3个不同的衍射面,实现了对复振幅型物体的成像及恢复重建。数值模拟及实验表明,系统有效克服了SBMIR系统中数次平移的误差积累问题,且仅需记录3个衍射面,避免过采样。而且光学系统实现简便、可重复性高。     

上行链路大气波前畸变对剪切光束成像技术的影响

剪切光束成像（sheared-beam imaging,SBI）技术是一种利用三束剪切相干激光照明的非传统成像技术,该技术通过探测器阵列接收目标反射回波的散斑图进行计算成像,在对远距离暗弱目标高分辨率成像方面有着独特的优势.大气湍流引起的光束波前畸变是影响SBI成像质量的一个关键因素,因此本文从湍流引起的激光波前畸变对目标频谱信息提取的影响入手,建立了光束波前畸变对成像影响的理论模型.利用多层相位屏模型模拟了近地25 km大气对SBI光束传输的影响.通过计算机仿真,得到了不同激光发射孔径和不同成像距离时SBI的成像结果.仿真结果表明,选取合适的发射孔径尺寸可以有效缓解湍流对光束波前质量的影响,从而提升成像质量.在Hutchin的研究基础上,对孔径选择范围的已有研究成果进行了扩展与深化.给出了SBI系统发射孔径尺寸选取的建议,为SBI对不同高度目标成像的像质差异分析提供了参考.     

Application of tomography method in millimeter wavelengths band II. Experimental

Tomographycal methods of image reconstruction of two-dimensional objects, surfaces or subsurface regions in millimeter wavelengths band are suggested and considered. Experimental images obtained using antennas and waveguiding lines of different types and radiation frequencyf≈33÷35GHz are represented. Volumetric dielectric objects and plane-parallel ferrite (or dielectric) plates distributed in free space or in homogeneous dielectric medium have been taken as objects under investigation. It is shown that in the frequency band under consideration, the images of investigated objects with characteristic dimensionA≈2λ÷7λ may be obtained by first-order diffraction tomography method (Born, Rytov or high frequency approximation of the first-order for electromagnetic field).     

重复频率激光辐照涂层金属材料的温升

 测量了重复频率YAG激光辐照涂层金属材料(30CrMnSiA钢和LF6M铝金壳体)的前后表面温度, 分析了不同频率激光辐照涂层壳体材料的温升特性。实验结果表明:在相同平均功率的条件下, 激光脉冲频率越高, 对材料的加热效率越明显, 重复频率激光对材料的加热优于连续激光。     

光学成像在疾病诊断中的应用

当前，医生们利用各种成像技术与疾病进行斗争，其中光学成像技术是获得高分辨率图像的新方法，其原理是每种生物介质具有各自特有的光谱特性，可赖以区分病变组织和正常组织，或对潜在问题准确定位。而光学相干层析则是最精确的光学成像技术，可提供１０～２０μｍ量级的高分辨率及比迄今为止任何其他技术都高的灵敏度。本文着重讨论光学相干层析术的基本原理及目前发展状况