Magnetic resonance imaging of coronary arteries and coronary stenosis

Coronary artery imaging is an important investigation for the management of coronary artery disease. Alternative noninvasive imaging would be useful, but the small caliber and tortuosity of the coronary vessels and cardiac and respiratory motion create formidable imaging problems. We first studied 21 normal subjects and 5 with coronary artery disease established by X-ray contrast angiography, of whom 2 had undergone bypass grafting. Of these, 22 were imaged successfully. Identification of the artery was possible for the left main stem, left anterior descending, right coronary, and left circumflex arteries respectively in 95%, 91%, 95%, and 76%. The arterial diameter at the origin could be measured in 77%, 77%, 81%, and 63%. The mean ±SD arterial diameter in each case (4.8±0.8, 3.7±0.5, 3.9±0.9, and 2.9±0.6 mm) was not significantly different from reference values (allp=ns). The mean length of artery visualized was 10.4±5.2,46.7±22.8,53.7±27.9, and 26.3±17.5 mm. In 12 normal males, the total coronary area was 30.9±9.2 mm² and the ratio compared with body surface area was 16.4±4.4 mm² m^–2 (bothp=ns compared with reference values). In seven patients, with X-ray contrast coronary angiography, the proximal arterial diameter measured by magnetic resonance was 3.9±1.1 mm, and by X-ray contrast angiography 3.7±1.0 mm (p=ns). We then studied 17 patients with angina. Imaging of just the relevant artery was performed and analysis was blinded to the X-ray angiography results. Stenosis was identified on the magnetic resonance (MR) images by localized reduction in vessel signal intensity. Stenosis location by MR was assessed by measurement of its distance from a reference vessel, with correlation to the X-ray findings. X-ray coronary angiography showed 23 stenoses of which 15 (65%) were correctly located by blind assessment of the MR images. Of the eight remaining stenoses, a further 5 (63%) were correctly located on the MR images after retrospective comparison (overall sensitivity 87%). There were three lesions thought to represent stenosis by MR, which on review of the X-ray angiogram proved to be a minor stenosis <50% (two cases) or a tortuous vessel (one case). Greater signal loss was seen in the more severe stenoses. The stenosis length by MRI was greater than by X-ray (8.4 versus 5.1 mm,p<0.001). The overestimation of stenosis length may be due to turbulence.     

Short-echo-time magnetic resonance phase-shift velocity mapping for assessment of heart valve and great vessel stenoses: three years' experience

Shortening the echo times of magnetic resonance (MR) sequences used for phase-shift velocity mapping to 3.6 ms has extended use of the technique to measurement of velocities in turbulent, poststenotic jet flows. We used a 0.5-T MR machine and field even-echo rephasing (FEER) sequences with 3.6 ms echo times for jet velocity mapping.In vitro trials used continuous flow through a phantom with a 6-mm stenosis. Fifteen patients with mitral and/or aortic valve stenosis and 20 patients with repaired aortic coarctation were studied prospectively, with Doppler ultrasonic measurement of peak jet velocity performed independently on the same day. The clinical contribution of MR jet velocity mapping, used during a 3-year period in 306 patients with congenital and acquired disease of heart valves, great vessels, and conduits, was assessed retrospectively. The 3.6-ms sequence allowed accurate measurement of jet velocities up to 6 m s^–1 in vitro (r=0.996). Prospective studies in patients showed good agreement between MR and Doppler measurements of peak velocity:n=38; range, 1.2–6.1 m s^–1; mean, 2.7 m s^–1; mean of differences (Doppler-MR), 0.22 ms^–1; standard deviation of differences, ±0.38 m s^–1 (±14%). MR jet velocity mapping proved particularly valuable for assessment and localization of stenoses at sites where ultrasonic access was limited. The technique represents a diagnostic advance which can obviate the need for catheterization in selected cases.     

Role of imaging parameters in phase mapping flow measurement

The influences of several primary imaging parameters on flow measurements made by the magnetic resonance phase mapping technique have been studied. In cine phase mapping, the echo time and flip angle had minimal effect on the flow measurement. Velocity sensitivity, slice thickness, and slice position were found to have well-behaved effects on the flow measurements. Angulation of either the slice or the tube away from normal intersection significantly affected the flow measurement. Further, the effect differs with the axis of rotation of the slice. Compensation for tube angulation by slice angulation improves flow measurements. Phase mapping is, thus, most heavily affected by gradient-related parameters. Hard limits on the choice of imaging parameters are few, but appropriate choices can compensate for or prevent some systematic errors.     

Application of a micro‐multipoint laser doppler velocimeter for in vivo evaluation of subcutaneous blood flow

We have developed a micro‐multipoint laser Doppler velocimeter (µMLDV), which is the newest version of our improved laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV). This device can potentially be used clinically for the evaluation of the internal diameter of blood vessels, inspection of blood vessel protrusions and diagnosis of melanoma. To date, we have verified the accuracy of this device for three‐dimensional measurement of blood vessels in vivo and measurement of melanoma. The state of blood flow is one of the evaluation criteria for tissue fixing. However, the state of blood flow is difficult to determine visually. If the state of blood flow can be visualized using this system, without damaging the affected area, it is possible to evaluate fixing noninvasively. Therefore, we measured normal blood vessels and cases in which there was no blood flow for comparison and verified the possibility of using the µMLDV as an evaluation device. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Measurement of flow in small vessels by magnetic resonance phase mapping techniques: anin vitro andin vivo study

The measurement of blood flow in small arteries is a potential extension of magnetic resonance (MR) angiography. We have compared flow measurements based on MR phase mapping with those obtained by Doppler ultrasound and electromagnetic flowmetry in both phantom and animal models. Correlation between modalities was high forin vitro studies (R ²=0.93–0.98).In vivo, electrocardiogram-gated MR and Doppler ultrasound flow measurements compared to electromagnetic flowmetry showed fair correlation coefficients (R ²=0.73 and 0.66, respectively). However, limits of agreement indicated that in small vessels flow measured by the three modalities could differ by up to ±90 mL/min. For both models, arteries in the range of 3–6.5 mm in diameter produced complementary errors in area and velocity measurements in MR studies. Ungated MR studies showed a reduced agreement (R ²=0.88in vitro, 0.54in vivo), which may in part be due to poor sampling of the velocity pattern. The results show that the high correlation obtainedin vitro cannot be extrapolated to thein vivo situation, where additional physiological and anatomical variables are encountered.     

高速掺气水流可压缩流特性

本文论述了水流速度为５０米每秒量级的高速掺气水流的音速、激波等可压缩流特性。从可压缩流出发,并根据高坝泄水工程的特点,提出了值得研究的课题。     

采用5孔毕托柱测量模型水轮机转轮：进出口断面流速分布的技术探讨

为了研究水轮机内部流动特性,达到改进设计,改善水轮机能量、气蚀特性的目的,目前,对模型转轮流速分布的测量已日益为国内外水轮机技术部门所重视。本文介绍了一种采用5孔毕托柱对反击式模型水轮机转轮进、出口断面进行流速分布测量及流量计算的方法;提出了根据上述计算流量与流量计所测流量之比,按线性对被测流速分布进行修正,使测量准确度得到提高,对测量的数据采集、实时处理程序也做了简要介绍。     

Assessment of arterial blood flow characteristics in normal and atherosclerotic vessels with the fast Fourier flow method

The purpose of this study was to scrutinize the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-performed measurements to compare arterial flow patterns in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), healthy volunteers (HV) and endurance athletes (EA). MRI blood flow data were partially repeated with Doppler ultrasound (DUS) with a view to a methodical comparison. Additionally, pulse wave velocity was assessed with the MUFF technique. For this purpose, MRI-performed flow measurements were performed in the common femoral artery in 21 patients with PAOD, in 34 HV and in 12 EA. The analysis included maximum flow velocities (MFV), velocity/time profile (VTP), pulse wave velocity (V _pulse), and vessel diameter (VD). In addition, MFV and VD were observed by DUS in most individuals. The results revealed a significant change regarding arterial blood flow characteristics in patients compared with HV and EA, with respect to the span between the peak positive and negative blood flow velocity in the femoral artery. The pulse wave velocity in patients was markedly elevated compared with healthy individuals. Furthermore, a complete, characteristic change in the VTP could be observed in patients. The methodical comparison between DUS and MRI showed a good correlation. Multi-slice Fourier flow data have indicated markedly increased pulse wave velocity in PAOD patients. Changes in the arterial blood flow can be clearly observed with MRI. In the future, this might offer a noninvasive possibility not only for the evaluation of the stage of the disease, but also for the detection of early, pre-clinical stages of atherosclerosis. This work was presented at the 1997 ISMRM Meeting, Vancouver, Canada and at the 14th Annual ESMRMB Meeting, Brussels, Belgium, 1997.     

循环水泵改造后凝汽器管内流速的可行性分析

电厂对旧机组改造时常会遇到循环水量泵与凝汽器相匹配的问题,某电厂循环水泵改造后,由于改变水泵,循环水量也随之变化,引起了凝汽器管内流速的变化,就这一事例对循环水泵的改造进行了可行性分析论证     

切向速度对空冷风机模拟的影响研究

通过对空冷系统轴流风机合理引入切向速度,可以使风机出口处及空冷单元内部流场更符合实际情况。针对典型600MW机组空冷风机的等比缩小风机,拟合出一条距风机轴中心距离的切向速度函数,建立了9台风机运行的空气流动过程的物理数学模型。通过CFD模拟,获得了加入切向速度前后,空冷单元内部及整体风机群流场的异同点。结果表明:引入切向速度后,流场发生较大变化,该条件在CFD模拟研究中不应被忽略,为使用CFD模拟研究空冷岛性能提供了一定参考。     

基于摄像机的车辆测速仪

由于基于单一摄像机的图像采集处理系统,不能获取图像空间距离与真实空间距离的映射关系,故尚未发现有基于这类系统的测速系统.本文利用城市道路中普遍存在的车道线标志,估计出这种映射关系.并且分析了传统光流方程算法的适用性,提出了一种以矩阵条件数为约束条件,以关联域匹配为预补偿的改进光流方程算法,从而使光流方程分析技术的可靠性得到保证.并在此基础上,提出了一种新的基于单一摄像机的车辆测速系统,它能在不附加其它测速或测距系统的情况下独立完成车辆的速度检测,并且能同时对多车辆进行测速.     

转速的高精度测量

论述单片微型计算机用于转速高精度测量时的测量原理、接口电路、软件设计     

植被群落之间水流流速垂向分布计算方法

植被之间及其之上流速分布一直是湿地水力学和河流水力学的研究难点.将Darcy-Weisbach阻力因子与植被生态特征参数(植被直径、植被高度和植被空间间距)联系起来,建立新的阻力因子计算方法.将Darcy-Weisbach断面流速公式应用于植被之间流速垂向分布计算,利用室内水槽试验结果对其进行了验证,结果表明:改进后的...     

万能式断路器刚分/刚合速度技术研究

利用多体动力学软件SW Motion对万能式断路器操动系统进行动态仿真建模与分析,获得了分、合闸过程中动触头的刚分速度与刚合速度。分析了断路器主要结构参数对其刚分速度与刚合速度的影响,为断路器机构的设计提供参考。     

浓相正压气力输送流动特性研究和系统选择

浓相正压气力输送应用广泛,但存在计算繁琐、参数选择复杂等问题。通过分析目前气力输送方式及管道长度、流速、灰气质量比对管道压力的影响,阐述管道输送特性,找出堵管原因,并给出悬浮速度的选择方法,为浓相正压气力输送设计中的节能降耗提供指导性结论。对已有气力输送系统的计算理念进行归纳整理,提出"试算法"选择系统参数的方法:根据系统出力及外部条件对系统参数作初选,算出系统阻力;如果计算结果偏离经验数据,则需对管径、灰气比进行调整,重新计算,直至得到合理的数值,并据此确定最终系统参数。     

基于煤粉流速测量的燃烧控制系统分析和优化设计

目前诸多燃煤电站锅炉运行均存在燃烧不稳、燃烧效率低甚至锅炉泄漏等现象,这些现象均与煤粉管道中煤粉流速有直接关系。为了准确测量煤粉流速,探明煤粉流速对锅炉燃烧的影响规律,以某燃煤电厂中一台磨煤机为实验平台,在其2号和3号煤粉管道上安装了基于静电法和相关测速原理的静电传感器,来测量煤粉流速。通过对测量数据的分析,以及与DCS火检监视系统相关参数的对比,验证了各煤粉管道间煤粉流速的失衡,也说明了不同煤粉流速对锅炉燃烧的影响。最后,提出了基于煤粉流速的燃烧控制和优化方案。     

灌木植被水流的流速垂向分布

速度分布是植被水流动力学研究的基础问题之一。与明槽水流的对数流速分布不同,植被水流在垂直方向差别较大,一般分为植间水流和植上水流两部分,垂向分布较为复杂。本文在考虑水流动量平衡的基础上,借助于混合长度紊流模型,并考虑植被形态的垂向差异,建立了表征流速垂向分布的微分方程;以灌木植被的形状为原型,在假定灌木直径垂向分布的前提下,得到了更为普适的流速垂向分布公式。将所得到的解析公式和室内试验数据及Baptist公式进行对比分析,发现本文公式与试验数据吻合得更好,能准确地反映植间流速的垂向变化。     

温升效应对介质阻挡放电诱导速度和涡量的影响

表面介质阻挡放电等离子体同时存在力、热两种效应传递能量,为研究热效应对等离子体激励诱导流场的影响,通过求解带有体积力源项和热量源项的Navier-Stokes方程,建立了综合考虑动量效应和温升效应的介质阻挡放电物理模型,并对比分析了有、无温升效应时的速度场和涡量场。计算结果表明:同一时刻考虑温升效应时的诱导速度大于未考虑时的诱导速度,并且随激励时间的增长更为显著;在50 ms时考虑温升效应的诱导速度高出未考虑时诱导速度的9.5%;非定常激励下,温升效应对等离子体激励诱导涡量的大小产生显著影响,与无温升效应相比,等离子体激励作用期间的正涡涡量增大10%,负涡涡量增大5%,等离子体激励未作用期间温升效应加速了涡的耗散。     

地表糙率对坡面流流速影响的试验研究

地表糙率是影响坡面流流速特征及变化过程的重要因素。本研究采用变坡试验水槽在粗糙粒径(d≤10mm)、单宽流量(0.04~0.24 L·s-1·m-1)和坡度(2°~12°)范围内,利用定床阻力冲刷试验系统研究坡面流平均流速与粗糙粒径、流量和坡度之间的关系。结果表明:随着地表糙率的增加,水流克服阻力做功增加,能量降低,流速呈指数函数减小。地表糙率不同会导致坡面流速的主要控制因素不同,当粗糙粒径较小(0≤d≤2.5mm)时,糙率、流量和坡度对流速均有显著影响,解释方差分别为19.8%、44.8%和27.8%;当粗糙粒径较大(2.5d≤10mm)时,糙率和坡度对流速的影响很小(影响程度分别占8.8%和1.5%),流量为主要影响因素(占84.1%)。经多元回归分析发现,糙率对流速的影响最大(54.6%),流量次之(30.8%),坡度最小(6.6%),三者可以较好模拟定床条件下的水流流速(R2=0.919),且流速与糙率负相关,与流量和坡度正相关。该研究结果有助于深入了解不同糙率的定床阻力下坡面流流速的时空分布特征,为坡面土壤侵蚀过程物理模型的建立提供科学依据。