Summary:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Radiological Sciences have developed a novel MRI modality that simultaneously utilizes multiple nuclei to enhance scanning capabilities while reducing scanning times.
Background:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a major tool in medical diagnostics and monitoring, as well as the primary clinical research tool for in vivo brain disorder investigation. Most modern nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-dependent activities performed today rely on hydrogen nuclei measurements. Besides hydrogen nuclei, there is potential for a magnetic resonance modality that can capture signal from a myriad of other relevant nuclei, including carbon, phosphorous, oxygen, or helium. These other nuclei innately give rise to an NMR signal but are less abundant and less sensitive than hydrogen. These non-hydrogen nuclei reveal important, complementary information not available otherwise such as glucose and glycogen monitoring, muscle pH measurements, oxygen consumption, etc. Often, multiple data from the same subject are required, but acquiring these datasets sequentially comes with its set of downsides. Acquisition time adds to scan time, and real-time comparison between datasets becomes less feasible as time increases. There is a growing need for an NMR modality that can efficiently capture multiple nuclei in real-time to improve diagnostic imaging capabilities.
Innovation:
Researchers in Benjamin Ellingson’s group have developed a novel method called INTERLACED. This method allows for the simultaneous measurement of MR sodium signals and amine chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) maps, significantly reducing the total acquisition time. Magnetic resonance signals from different nuclei sources can be visualized and measured at the same time, allowing for multifaceted data collection from an MRI scan. Transient physiological changes requiring temporal resolutions on the order of seconds, such as transient brain ischemia in a stroke model, can be monitored using INTERLACED. By utilizing the delays necessitated by sodium concentration acquisition to run the hydrogen elements of the sequence, INTERLACED effectively reduces total scan time by upwards of 35%. Ultimately, INTERLACED will broaden the scope of MRI-acquirable data available to clinicians and researchers, enhancing this already ubiquitous tool.
Potential Applications:
• Medical imaging
• Metabolic studies
• Cancer research
• Muscle physiology analysis
• Neurological disease monitoring
• Clinical diagnostics
• Sodium and proton signal measurement
Advantages:
• Total acquisition time reduction – scan time reduced 35-45%
• Improved temporal resolution
• Images multiple nuclei simultaneously
• Fast data collection
State of Development:
INTERLACE has been demonstrated computationally and validated in-lab.
Related Publications:
Lopez Kolkovsky, Alfredo L., et al. "Interleaved and simultaneous multi‐nuclear magnetic resonance in vivo. Review of principles, applications and potential." NMR in Biomedicine 35.10 (2022): e4735. https://doi.org/10.1002/nbm.4735
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2024-069
Lead Inventor:
Benjamin Ellingson, UCLA Director of Brain Tumor Imaging Laboratory.