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#13 - A MRI invention that improves several facets of MRI usage to help in several capacities such as guided surgery
Long Title: A wireless MRI detection coil with a parametric amplifier
NIH Reference No.: E-113-2011
Executive Summary
General Description
A ballpark of 100 billion dollars a year is spent on medical imaging in the US alone. Imaging techniques, such as MRI, are essential to correctly diagnose a range of diseases by producing cross-sectional views of the body without damaging the living tissue. The availability of MRI units has rapidly increased worldwide over the past decade. In 2009, 91.2 MRI scans per 1,000 populations in the US were reported.
Progress in science and medical technologies continues to transform health care delivery and to improve quality of life. The invention relates to a device and method that may provide great improvements in the area of interventional MRI and increase its sensitivity. The technology describes an MRI detection coil that has been integrated with a signal amplifier and utilizes wireless transmission as part of the amplification scheme. The signal can be transmitted from the subject in a way that provides detection at higher sensitivity than conventional coils without internal amplification.
Scientific Progress
A complete wireless detection coil with an integrated parametric amplifier has been constructed to provide local amplification, transmission of MR signals and sensitivity approaching that of a direct wired connection. High-spatial-resolution images have been obtained to observe kidney microstructures in vivo with a wireless amplified nuclear MR detector.
Future Work
Strengths
Weaknesses
Patent Status
PCT Application PCT/US2012/31083 filed March 29, 2012 with US (#14/008,133), EU (#12718473.7), and CA (#2,831,793 ) applications filed September 27, 2013.
Publication
Qian C. et al., J Magn Reson. 2013 Apr;229:67-74 (PMID: 23245489)
Qian C. et al., Radiology. 2013 Jul;268 (1):228-36 (PMID: 23392428)
Qian C. et al., Magn Reson Med. 2012 Sep;68 (3):989-96 (PMID: 22246567)
Inventor Bio
Chunqi Qian, Ph.D.
Dr. Qian is a research fellow in the LFMI lab at NINDS. He received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. His area of expertise is MRI detection technology and wireless sensors.
NIH Reference No.: E-113-2011
Executive Summary
- Invention Type: Class II or Class III Device depending on the team's creativity
- Patent Status: PCT Application No. PCT/US2012/31083, US Application No. 61/468,911, US Application No. 14/008,133 - US, EU, and CA applications filed in 2013
- LINK: http://www.ott.nih.gov/technology/e-113-20110
- NIH Reference Number: E-113-2011
- NIH Institute or Center: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
- Disease focus: Imaging/MRI
- Basis of Invention: Hardware
- How it works: Device and method provide great improvements in the area of interventional MRI, eliminating the need for transistors and increasing the sensitivity of detection in a way that is inherently wireless
- Lead Inventors: Chunqi Qian, PhD (NINDS), Stephen Dodd (NINDS), Joseph A. Murphy-Boesch (NINDS), Alan Koretsky (NINDS)
- Development Stage: Proof of principle has been demonstrated on a prototype device with testing a second generation device in progress
- Novelty: New system and method of wireless detection in MRI applications
- Clinical Applications: The device can be used as:
- Part of a catheter MRI coil for MRI guided surgery
- Implantable NMR coils for localized spectroscopy with better sensitivityScreening for pharmacological compounds that may ameliorate the effects of acute brain trauma
- Free floating MRI detector/amplifier, swallowed for internal MRI detection as has been done quite successful with optical imaging devices for imaging the human intestine
- There are many potential uses in MRI coil arrays where interaction between wires in large element arrays is a problem
General Description
A ballpark of 100 billion dollars a year is spent on medical imaging in the US alone. Imaging techniques, such as MRI, are essential to correctly diagnose a range of diseases by producing cross-sectional views of the body without damaging the living tissue. The availability of MRI units has rapidly increased worldwide over the past decade. In 2009, 91.2 MRI scans per 1,000 populations in the US were reported.
Progress in science and medical technologies continues to transform health care delivery and to improve quality of life. The invention relates to a device and method that may provide great improvements in the area of interventional MRI and increase its sensitivity. The technology describes an MRI detection coil that has been integrated with a signal amplifier and utilizes wireless transmission as part of the amplification scheme. The signal can be transmitted from the subject in a way that provides detection at higher sensitivity than conventional coils without internal amplification.
Scientific Progress
A complete wireless detection coil with an integrated parametric amplifier has been constructed to provide local amplification, transmission of MR signals and sensitivity approaching that of a direct wired connection. High-spatial-resolution images have been obtained to observe kidney microstructures in vivo with a wireless amplified nuclear MR detector.
Future Work
- Plans to develop methods to decouple elements for use in MRI detector arrays
Strengths
- The invention can replace conventional MRI amplification typically done with transistors and eliminating the need for wires
- The technology can replace what is traditionally used as part of implanted or catheter coils for interventional procedures with MRI
- Since the detector/amplifier integrated system eliminates the need for transistors and is wireless, heat is reduced and sensitivity of detection is increased
- The system is compatible with interventional MRI devices
Weaknesses
Patent Status
PCT Application PCT/US2012/31083 filed March 29, 2012 with US (#14/008,133), EU (#12718473.7), and CA (#2,831,793 ) applications filed September 27, 2013.
Publication
Qian C. et al., J Magn Reson. 2013 Apr;229:67-74 (PMID: 23245489)
Qian C. et al., Radiology. 2013 Jul;268 (1):228-36 (PMID: 23392428)
Qian C. et al., Magn Reson Med. 2012 Sep;68 (3):989-96 (PMID: 22246567)
Inventor Bio
Chunqi Qian, Ph.D.
Dr. Qian is a research fellow in the LFMI lab at NINDS. He received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. His area of expertise is MRI detection technology and wireless sensors.