The broad, long-term objectives of this project is to make high quality MR imaging of pediatric subjects possible without sedation or anesthesia. The specific aims are to 1) Design, develop and test age optimized 32 channel head coils, 2) Improve image quality further by developing real time motion mitigation for standard MR pulse sequences and 3) Test a motion insensitive accelerated pediatric brain protocol utilizing these developments and incorporating conditioning strategies provided by child life professionals. Accurate plastic phantoms are created from volumetric MR images of the head at 1 month, 4 months, 12 months and 36 months. A close fitting helmet is designed to the head size at each age and 32 array coils are arranged in an optimal design. Safety and QA testing is performed. These high-density arrays allow image acceleration. In addition to image acceleration, volumetric T1, T2 and FLAIR pulse sequences are designed with echo planar navigators to prospectively correct for at least 10 degrees of motion. Multiple strategies are currently being tested for improved motion correction for diffusion tensor imaging. These novel coils and pulse sequences are then introduced into a program for attempting MR studies without sedation or anesthesia for children between 0 and 3 to 4 years of age. Child life professionals provide age based appropriate screening and conditioning to increase the probability of success.
