Development of ultra-low magnetic field MRI and basic research applied to intracranial disease using molecular imaging technology

• Project/Area Number: 16K10796
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurosurgery
• Research Institution: Kindai University (2017-2019); Asahikawa Medical College (2016)
• Principal Investigator: TSUYUGUCHI Naohiro 近畿大学, 大学病院, 准教授 (50295705)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小山 大介 金沢工業大学, 先端電子技術応用研究所, 准教授 (60569888) ; 宇田 武弘 大阪市立大学, 大学院医学研究科, 講師 (70382116) ; 足立 善昭 金沢工業大学, 先端電子技術応用研究所, 教授 (80308585)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,810,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,110,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
• Keywords: 超低磁場MRI / マイクロMEG / 代謝画像 / 脳神経ネットワーク / コヒーレンス / 超低磁場MR / 動物用小型MEG / PET / 脳アミノ酸代 / MEG / 脳アミノ酸代謝 / 脳ブドウ糖代謝 / ultra low field MRI / SQUID / magnetoencephalography / microPET

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The SQUID ultra-low magnetic field MRI system enabled two-dimensional imaging of the phantom, but it was not possible to obtain sufficient results with the brain of the rat to visualize the head. Attempts were made to detect images with higher resolution, but sufficient results could not be obtained because heat generation deteriorates the performance of SQUID. It was considered to be the limit of imaging using this system. Therefore, simulations were performed to confirm that imaging with low-field MRI has no theoretical problem. Data on metabolic images could not be obtained because the commercialization of new PET products was delayed. Therefore, we replaced the brain network we were trying to obtain from metabolic images with coherence. We proved that imaginary part coherence is useful for network analysis.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

MRIやMEGは1990年代に臨床に多く使われ始め、以後、コンピューター技術の発展に伴い、検査装置や解析ソフトの改良に伴い現在ではほぼ確立された技術である。本研究は、今までの技術をベースに別の視点から従来の生体の解剖学構造画像や機能画像に新しい情報を付け加えようとする試みである。新しい診断法の開発とコスト削減も視野にいれた研究で、社会的インパクトが強いものと考える．臨床に応用するにはハード的な困難さがあり、今後のさらなる技術開発が必要である．

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Development of Compact Ultra-Low-Field MRI System Using an Induction Coil (2017)
  • Author(s): Daisuke Oyama, Yoshiaki Adachi, Masanori Higuchi, Naohiro Tsuyuguchi, and Gen Uehara
  • Journal Title: IEEE Transactions on Magnetics Volume: 53 Pages: 5100504-5100504
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] 体性感覚誘発磁場(SEF) (2017)
  • Author(s): 露口尚弘 鎌田恭輔
  • Journal Title: クリニカルニューロサイエンス Volume: 35 Pages: 210-214
• [Presentation] T1 Relaxation Time Measurement in Ultra-low Magnetic Field Using an Induction Coil (2017)
  • Author(s): Daisuke Oyama, Yoshiaki Adachi, Masanori Higuchi, Naohiro Tsuyuguchi, Gen Uehara
  • Organizer: Biomagnetic Sendai
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Development of Compact Ultra-Low-Field MRI System Using an Induction Coil (2017)
  • Author(s): Daisuke Oyama, Yoshiaki Adachi, Masanori Higuchi, Naohiro Tsuyuguchi, and Gen Uehara
  • Organizer: INTERMAG Europe 2017
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Sensing System for Magnetic Resonance Signal at Ultra-low Magnetic Field (2016)
  • Author(s): Daisuke Oyama
  • Organizer: International Workshop on Magnetic Bio-Sensing
  • Place of Presentation: Fukuoka
  • Year and Date: 2016-10-12
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited