Spin-lock MR Glucose Quantification via CESL Pulse Sequences
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring glucose transport and metabolism, such as glucoCEST MRI, face challenges of low sensitivity and difficulty in quantification, requiring a more sensitive and reliable approach to detect and monitor glucose levels in tissues for diseases like cancer and stroke.
Innovation Solution
The method employs chemical-exchange-sensitive spin-locking magnetic resonance (MR) using pre- and post-glucose chemical exchange spin-lock pulse sequences to quantify glucose transport and metabolism, minimizing confounding factors and improving sensitivity and temporal resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glucoCEST MRI method is used to detect glucose, then non-invasive detection is achieved, but sensitivity is low and quantification is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from conventional CEST to spin-lock relaxation rate (R1p), which is insensitive to confounding factors like T1, T2, and magnetization transfer. This parameter change enables accurate quantification of glucose concentration by measuring R1p changes that directly correlate with glucose levels without being affected by other physiological variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the specific signal component related to glucose by measuring spin-lock relaxation rates at different lock times and fitting the data to extract R1p values. This separation of the glucose-specific signal from confounding factors enables precise quantification while maintaining non-invasive detection capability.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional CEST MRI is used, then glucose detection is achieved, but temporal resolution is poor and scan frequency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic spin-lock pulses with varying lock times to acquire multiple data points for R1p calculation. This periodic action enables rapid sequential measurements at different time points, improving temporal resolution and allowing frequent scanning to monitor glucose dynamics over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional CEST saturation transfer mechanism with a spin-lock relaxation measurement approach. This substitution eliminates the need for long-duration saturation pulses and complex signal processing, enabling faster acquisition and higher scan frequency while maintaining glucose detection capability.
3Loss of information
If low-power long-duration RF irradiation is applied in glucoCEST, then saturation transfer to water protons is achieved, but the signal is strongly affected by relaxation effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses spin-lock pulses as an intermediary mechanism to transfer magnetization information from glucose protons to the measurable R1p relaxation rate. This intermediary approach bypasses the direct saturation transfer to water protons that is susceptible to confounding relaxation effects, providing a more stable and reliable signal that specifically reflects glucose concentration.
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
This approach enhances sensitivity, reduces contamination from other physiological variations, and provides accurate quantification of glucose levels, enabling detection with lower glucose concentrations and improved monitoring of disease progression and treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
acquiring pre-glucose MR data by executing a pre-glucose chemical exchange spin-lock (CESL) pulse sequence a number of times each including applying pre-glucose chemical exchange spin-lock pulse sequence irradiation to the tissue or the organ
Implementation Method 2
method of monitoring glucose transport and/or metabolism in a tissue or an organ of a subject using spin-locking magnetic resonance (MR)
Data Source
AI summary
A method of monitoring glucose transport and/or metabolism in a tissue or an organ of a subject using spin-locking magnetic resonance (MR) includes acquiring pre-glucose MR data by executing a pre-glucose chemical exchange spin-lock (CESL) pulse sequence a number of times each including applying pre-glucose chemical exchange spin-lock pulse sequence irradiation to the tissue or the organ, administering glucose to the subject, acquiring post-glucose MR data by executing a post-glucose chemical exchange spin-lock (CESL) pulse sequence a number of times each including applying post-glucose chemical exchange spin-lock (CESL) pulse sequence irradiation to the tissue or the organ, and using the pre-glucose MR data and the post-glucose MR data to generate a measure of glucose transport, glucose metabolism or both glucose transport and glucose metabolism in the tissue or the organ.