Summary:
The objective of this research is to develop advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) hardware and software technologies for use in the evaluation of normal and abnormal anatomy, biology, and physiology for later translation into various clinical utilities. MRI does not use radiation and is very sensitive to soft tissues and blood flow. These MRI attributes are highly valuable for noninvasive imaging of a wide range of diseases of various organs including, but not limited to, the brain, cervical spine, cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels), liver, kidneys, prostate, musculoskeletal or orthopedic diseases, or patients with FDA approved MRI compatible implants. Building on the previous success of this project and taking advantage of the hardware upgrades to the existing research scanners, it is anticipated that innovative MRI techniques will be successfully created for the assessment of those diseases, and that will ultimately enhance clinical usage.
Despite recent technological advancements, many current MRI methods are limited by poor signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios, long scan time, as well as image artifacts due to motion, metal implants, or scanner imperfections like magnetic field inhomogeneity. Very often these techniques can be improved in terms of better image quality and data accuracy when using upgraded/advanced hardware and associated software/control systems, for example, a new generation of MRI coils can make the magnetic field more homogeneous in imaging. We have substantial experience and skill in MRI hardware, software engineering, physics, imaging methods, and clinics to improve MRI scanner performance to overcome these challenges for improving image quality and image information contents using MRI physics and engineering.
We are looking for volunteers with or under the treatment of the following medical conditions:
1. Cervical Spine disorders:
- Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM)
- Cervical spinal cord injury
- Cervical spinal cord tumor
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) lesion in C-spine
2. Cardiovascular diseases:
- Chronic Myocardium Infarction (MI)
- Myocardiopathy
3. Orthopedic implants, e.g., Hip Replacement:
- Healthy volunteers with MR-compatible unilateral hip replacement
- Pelvis oncology with MR-compatible unilateral hip replacement ((Females: Oncological diseases in Rectum, Cervix uteri, Bladder, Corpus uteri, Ovary. Males: Oncological diseases in Prostate, Rectum, Bladder))
- Volunteers with MR-compatible rods or pedicle screws in the spine
4. Dental implants
- Volunteers with both dental braces and Cervical Spine disorders
5. Knee Replacement
- Volunteers with MR-compatible knee replacement
If you are interested to this study, please fill out the Questions/Comments section and let us know what category your medical condition belongs to, we will ask the specific research coordinator to contact you.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Adults 18 years or older
- Volunteers diagnosed with or undergoing treatment for Cervical Spine disorders, Cardiovascular diseases, Hip Replacement
- A body mass index (BMI) <= 26 kg/m2 for volunteers with Cervical Spine disorders and dental implants
- BMI <= 23 kg/m2 for volunteers with Cardiovascular diseases
- BMI <= 26 kg/m2 for volunteers with Hip replacement
- BMI <= 20 kg/m2, for healthy volunteers, female/male
- Able to undergo MRI (no claustrophobia)
Qualified Participants May Receive:
One hour 45 minutes to 2 hours MRI scan
Compensation:
- Volunteers with metallic implants with more restricted movement (e.g., MSK, orthopedics, cardiac, etc.) $400
- Volunteers without metallic implants (who have one of the medical conditions, e.g., Cardiovascular diseases, Cervical Spine disorder, Oncological diseases in the pelvis, MSK disorders or injuries, or any other disease) $300
- Normal healthy volunteers $120