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Mitigation of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) in MRI

Award Number: R01EB028250
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2029

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Mitigation of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) in MRI - Project Summary/Abstract Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is the stimulation of motor and sensory nerves in the body by electric fields induced by the rapid switching of MRI gradient coils. Until recently PNS was considered an unavoidable effect of the MRI imaging process. This is problematic for clinical MRI because PNS dramatically restricts the parameter space of common imaging sequences (TR, TE, ESP etc…) thus resulting in degraded image quality and inefficient acquisition times. PNS is especially constraining for fast ‘turbo’ sequences that have become ubiquitous in clinics, such as stead-state free precession (cardiac), diffusion weighted imaging (neuro), turbo spin echo (cardiac/neuro/pelvis/knee) and fluid attenuated inversion recovery (cardiac/neuro/pelvis/knee), just to name a few. In the previous funding cycle, we developed, validated and disseminated electromagnetic and neurophysiological modeling tools allowing to predict PNS thresholds in absolute unit (mT/m). We then proposed PNS mitigation methods yielding gradient coils with intrinsically low PNS propensity. Despite these successes, there are several barriers to clinical translation of our gradient designs. A first challenge is the generation of coils that perform well for all body habitus (we currently consider only two body models) and all imaging landmarks (we currently consider one landmark per optimization). Another challenge is that of accurate real-time PNS monitoring as the patient is being scanned. Indeed, the state-of-the-art PNS monitor, SAFE, does not model the variation of PNS response across different landmarks, nor E-field interactions across gradient axes that occurs in oblique MRI acquisitions. As a result, using SAFE for PNS monitoring does not allow using the full performance capabilities of our PNS-optimized systems, and in general is poorly adapted to PNS control in all high-performance systems. In this renewal, we design gradient coils with robust PNS performance across all body habitus, imaging landmarks and develop accurate PNS monitor models that allow using the full performance capabilities of high-performance gradient systems, including our PNS-optimized designs. In the last Aim, we build gradient coil prototypes to validate our PNS predictions in healthy subjects. A key deliverable of this project is the dissemination of gradient design and monitoring tools that fully address PNS in MRI and can be readily translated to industry and clinics. We work closely with academic, industry (Siemens, GE) and regulatory partners (IEC, FDA) throughout the project to ensure translation.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $604,963 )
2026	2026	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	6	4/1/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$604,963
														Subtotal = $604,963

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $619,919 )
2025	2025	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	001	5	6/20/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$626,905
2025	2023	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	4	6/4/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$6,986
														Subtotal = $619,919

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $592,390 )
2023	2023	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	4	1/30/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$592,390
														Subtotal = $592,390

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $596,926 )
2022	2022	MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	001	3	4/11/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$59,696
2022	2022	MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	3	3/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$537,230
														Subtotal = $596,926

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $599,413 )
2021	2021	MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	001	2	5/31/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2021	2021	MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	2	3/26/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$599,413
														Subtotal = $599,413

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $626,069 )
2020	2020	MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	1	4/30/2020	NEW	$626,069
														Subtotal = $626,069

Grand Total All Awards = $3,639,680

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Mitigation of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) in MRI

Award Number: R01EB028250

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2029

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