Ultra Fast Magnetic Resonance Imaging using One-Vo.. (OVOC)
Ultra Fast Magnetic Resonance Imaging using One-Voxel-One-Coil Acquisition
(OVOC)
Start date: Sep 1, 2009,
End date: Feb 28, 2015
PROJECT
FINISHED
The proposal is aimed at the development of ultrafast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for applications in neuroscience, neurology and oncology. The methodology used is based on the principle of one-voxel-one-coil acquisition in which the sensitive volumes of arrays containing a large number of small receiver coils is used as primary source of spatial localization. This allows to achieve acquisition speed >> 10 fps and opens up new windows of application for MRI. Within this proposal research will be aimed at two areas of application: For investigation of fast physiological events in the brain, applications based on the observation of fast spatiotemporal events by MR-encephalography (MREG) will be developed. MREG will be used for detailed quantitative measurement of differential cortical response during activation of cortical networks by complex stimuli. Primary areas of interest will be the investigation of spatiotemporal response in visual perception, visual and auditory cued tasks and during language processing. In addition to quantitative mapping of response, map functional connectivity with and without correlation with ECG will be investigated. For neurological applications we will use the very high sensitivity of MREG to detect arterial pulsatility in order to generate quantitative, three-dimensional maps of hemodynamic function. Clinical applications for examination of patients with stroke, ischemia, vascular disease and vascular pathologies will be developed. The principles of OVOC-measurements will also be applied in oncology for measurements of fast intrinsic and stimulated physiological events like dynamic measurements of blood flow, tissue permeability and oxygenation in tumors and metastasis. Spectroscopic OVOC-measurements will be developed to observe metabolic turnover. All experiments will be performed both in humans and animal models. Highly localized experiments will be performed using microcoil arrays currently under development.
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