You are here

Development of Sub-second 3D Pulse Sequences for FMRI in Neurosciences

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R44NS063537-01
Agency Tracking Number: NS063537
Amount: $861,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: PHS2007-2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
ADVANCED MRI TECHNOLOGY, LLC 652 PETALUMA AVE, STE J
SEBASTOPOL, CA 95472
United States
DUNS: 625244731
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 DAVID FEINBERG
 (707) 829-2340
 DAVID.FEINBERG@ADVANCEDMRI.COM
Business Contact
Phone: (707) 829-2340
Email: david.feinberg@advancedmri.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): MRI is a proven non-invasive technique to make functional MRI (fMRI) by measuring changes in blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast in different regions of the brain resulting from the neurovascular coupling of
neuronal activity. Echo planar imaging (EPI) is the most widely used fMRI pulse sequence, due to its speed and BOLD contrast, however EPI has relatively poor image quality due to distortions and signal missing from brain regions of high susceptibility near
bone and air interfaces. In high spatial resolution (sub-millimeter) fMRI at 7T to explore the functional organization of the cortex, EPI is limited to single 2D image slice that cannot reveal the true 3D distribution of neuronal activity. We are proposin
g of the development of a family of highly efficient 3D fMRI pulse sequences which obtain sub-second 3D images of the brain, optimized for BOLD contrast in fMRI. The sequences will utilize gradient-and-spin-echo (GRASE) pulse sequence which is hybridized a
nd modified to obtain BOLD contrast in high spatial resolution and minimal artifacts. The new 3D fMRI sequences will be designed and implemented to reduce or eliminate the susceptibility related artifacts of distortion and signal loss in EPI. The availabil
ity of these 3D fMRI pulse sequences will give researchers and clinicians the capability of performing fMRI of the brain with improvements over current 2D fMRI methodology. The sequence will be designed and implemented on a 1.5T MR scanner. The new sequenc
es will be ported to 3T and 7T high field scanners at University of California Berkeley, University of Minnesota and UCSF where the new imaging technology will undergo further optimization and testing in neuroscience studies. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Funct
ional MRI (fMRI) is a widely used method to study the brain while it is performing thinking tasks and to map out regions of brain activity. We are proposing a sub-second 3D imaging technology to be supplement or replace the current use of sub-second 2D ima
ging for fMRI. The 3D fMRI will be useful for revealing the basic organization of the brain's activity which could lead to new discoveries of how the brain works. The resulting measurements obtained in the brain with 3D fMRI will be useful for studies of n
eurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, drug trials and for evaluating people with stroke and cerebrovascular diseases.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government