Multinuclear MRI Phantom with Gyromagnetic-Ratio Partitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phantoms for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are inadequate for simultaneous integrated imaging of multiple nuclides, failing to account for differences in gyromagnetic ratios and non-uniform magnetic fields, which affects the fusion accuracy of multinuclear MR images.
Innovation Solution
A phantom design with partitions I and II, whose thicknesses are proportional to the gyromagnetic ratios of nuclides, is used to fill sealed containers with a mixture of all pre-imaging nuclides, ensuring consistent resonant frequencies and concentrations, facilitating feature extraction for improved multinuclear image fusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional 1H imaging is used alone, then the imaging system is simple and easy to operate, but functional information such as metabolism and cell activity cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple nuclide imaging capabilities (1H, 23Na, 31P, 19F) into a single integrated phantom system, allowing simultaneous acquisition of anatomical and functional information. The phantom integrates multiple subspace regions, each optimized for different nuclides, enabling comprehensive imaging without requiring separate imaging systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom is designed with multi-functionality to support imaging of multiple nuclides (proton 1H, sodium 23Na, phosphorus 31P, and fluorine 19F) within a single system. Each subspace region is configured with specific materials and concentrations to optimize signal generation for different nuclides, making the phantom universally applicable for multinuclear MRI evaluation.
2Measurement precision
If multinuclear MR images are fused, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but fusion accuracy is affected by different gyromagnetic ratios and non-uniform magnetic fields
Solution Approach 1:
The phantom employs local quality by creating distinct subspace regions with different material compositions optimized for specific nuclides. Each subspace contains materials with specific concentrations and properties tailored to generate characteristic signals for particular nuclides (e.g., NaCl for 23Na, phosphates for 31P, fluorinated compounds for 19F), enabling accurate local signal generation that accounts for different gyromagnetic ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom utilizes parameter changes by varying material concentrations, compositions, and physical states across different subspace regions to optimize signal characteristics for each nuclide. The thicknesses of partition walls and material concentrations are specifically adjusted to compensate for differences in gyromagnetic ratios and relaxation times, ensuring consistent signal intensity across multiple nuclides for accurate image fusion.
3Loss of information
If non-1H nuclides are used for imaging, then functional information is obtained, but anatomical structure information cannot be extracted due to low concentrations and discontinuous distributions
Solution Approach 1:
The phantom is segmented into multiple subspace regions, each dedicated to specific nuclide imaging with optimized material concentrations. This segmentation allows concentrated distribution of each nuclide type in specific regions, creating well-defined anatomical-like structures that can be clearly visualized. The partition walls between subspaces further define clear boundaries, enabling extraction of anatomical structure information from non-1H nuclide images.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The phantom enables simultaneous acquisition of MR signals from different nuclides, providing feature points and structural similarities for enhanced multinuclear image fusion accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can achieve multinuclear, multi-sequence, multi-parameter and multi-orientation imaging to obtain images with excellent soft tissue contrast and spatial resolution
Data Source
AI summary
A phantom for multinuclear simultaneous integrated magnetic resonance imaging includes a plurality of sealed containers, where a partition I and a partition II are provided in the sealed container and intersect with each other; the partition I and the partition II divide the sealed container into a plurality of subspaces that are interconnected; a thickness of the partition I is equal to a resolution of a nuclide 1H, and a thickness of the partition II is γH/γX times of the resolution of the nuclide 1H, where γH is a gyromagnetic ratio of the nuclide 1H, and γX is a gyromagnetic ratio of a pre-imaging nuclide X; the sealed container is filled with a mixture; and the mixture includes all pre-imaging nuclides. In the phantom, the partition I and the partition II are designed according to a ratio of gyromagnetic ratios of nuclides, and are combined with a mixture including all pre-imaging nuclides.