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IDENTIFY

The goal of the IDentIFY project is to develop a new generation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners capable of detecting certain diseases that are invisible to conventional scanners. An MRI can study large objects (e.g. a head) and produces images of them, whereas an NMR can only analyze small samples and cannot image them.
Multiple challenges must be overcome before such devices can be deployed in hospitals, among them controlling the magnetic field in the vicinity of the equipment.



Publié le 29 avril 2021

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Improved Diagnosis By Fast Field-Cycling MRI

The goal of the IDentIFY project is to develop a new generation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners capable of detecting certain diseases that are invisible to conventional scanners. An MRI can study large objects (e.g. a head) and produces images of them, whereas an NMR can only analyze small samples and cannot image them.
Multiple challenges must be overcome before such devices can be deployed in hospitals, among them controlling the magnetic field in the vicinity of the equipment.





 

Starting date : Jan.2016 > Dec. 2019

Lifetime: 48 months

Program in support : 

PHC-11-2015 Development of new
diagnostic tools and technologies: in
vivo medical imaging technologies


 

Status project : complete

CEA-Leti's contact :

Antoine Viana

Bernard Strée

 

Project Coordinator: University of Aberdeen (GB)

Partners:  

  • DE: Tuil
  • FI: Ieco
  • FR: CEA-Leti, Cnrs, Inserm
  • GB: Iniabdn
  • IT: Unito, Stelar
  • PL: Uwm


​Target market: n/a


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Publications:

  • «Optimization-based ambient field compensation applied to
    fast-field cycling nuclear magnetic resonance experiments»,
    L.B. Martinho, O. Chadebec, O. Pinaud, L. L. Rouve,
    J. L. Coulomb, A. Viana, ... & Ferrante, G. (2017, November),
    in NUMELEC 2017-9e Conférence Européenne sur les
    Méthodes Numériques en Electromagnétisme.


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Investment:  € 6.6 m.

EC Contribution: € 6.6 m.



Website


Stakes

  • FFC-MRI requires measurement and elimination of interfering magnetic fields in the vicinity of the MRI system. This requires development of new active magnetic shielding.
    The aim of the CEA-Leti and CNRS research is to compensate for static and time varying (<500 Hz) magnetic fields in the vicinity of Grenoble-based NMR and Aberdeen-based MRI systems and to generate relaxation fields for ultralow FFC‐NMR/MRI measurements in the 2μT - 1mT range.

  • This work has been broken down the following key steps:
    • Roll out magnetic sensors for measuring magnetic environments
    • Develop mathematical models for magnetic interference sources (static and time‐varying)
    • Based on these models, design coils to compensate for DC & AC interference fields, when using ultra- and very-low fields (from 2μT to 1mT, free of interference <500 Hz)
    • Develop and implement the coils in Grenoble (on the NMR system) and Aberdeen (on the MRI system)
    • Implement automatic compensation software for the FFC‐NMR and FFC‐MRI systems.


  • This project has allowed CEA-Leti to:
    • Reinforce relations between the CEA-Leti partners (INAC / Clinatec) and Grenoble partners (G2ELAB at Grenoble INP, CNRS) and build new partnerships with scientific institutions in Germany, Poland and Italy
    • Develop two very-low noise power supplies for the NMR and MRI systems
    • Develop cutting edge technology for magnetic shielding, which will be reusable for others projects requiring elimination of magnetic interference
    • Develop its expertise in the field of medical imaging
    • Prepare the new generation of portable, ultra-low field NMR systems allowing on-site analysis.

OBJECTIVES

  • Many diseases are inadequately diagnosed or not diagnosed early enough by current imaging methods. Fast Field-Cycling (FFC) MRI can measure quantitative information that is invisible to standard MRI. FFC scanners switch magnetic field while scanning the patient to obtain new diagnostic information.
    The main IDentIFY project aims are:
    • To understand the mechanisms determining FFC signals in human tissues
    • To create technology to measure and correct for environmental magnetic fields, enabling FFC at ultra-low fields
    • To investigate contrast agents for FFC to increase sensitivity and to allow molecular imaging
    • To improve FFC technology to extend its range of clinical applications
    • To test FFC-MRI on tissue samples and patients.
    These aims are being achieved by:
    • Developing tissue relaxation theory for ultra-low fields
    • Developing magnetometers and environmental field correction
    • Creating and in-vitro testing new FFC contrast agents
    • Improving technology to monitor and stabilize magnetic fields in FFC
    • Improving magnet power supply stability
    • Investigating better radiofrequency coils and acquisition pulse sequences.


IMPACT

  • Development of a new generation of MRI scanner requires a broad range of high-level technological, biological and medical expertise. Allocation of cooperative research resources to a pool of experts for developing a new MRI makes Europe the frontrunner in diagnosing several pathologies that are currently invisible to conventional MRI scanners. It also offers Europe a
    technological and commercial lead in the area of medical imaging devices their commercialization.