COMPOSITION FOR REMOVING NOISE FROM MRI AND PAD USING THE SAME

Abstract

Provided are a composition for removing noise from an MRI, including a compound having a hydrogen bond, and a pad using the same, wherein the composition is applied in a non-invasive way causing no side effects in the human body, the composition is not toxic and thus is safe, the composition is used in the manner of covering an area requiring diagnosis or being attached to an MRI apparatus, and thus has the advantages of improving images of a relatively wide range, and obtaining more accurate image information than restoration of a distorted image by a program, and the composition is expected to be easily commercialized by companies because the costs required to manufacture the composition are low.

Claims

1. A composition for removing noise from an MRI image, comprising: a compound having a functional group capable of hydrogen bonding.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition improves the quality of an MRI image.

3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the compound is one or more selected from the group consisting of water (H.sub.2O), amyl alcohol (C.sub.5H.sub.11OH), butyl alcohol (CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH), ethanol (C.sub.2H.sub.5OH), methyl alcohol (CH.sub.3OH), ethylene glycol (OHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH), formaldehyde (HCHO), nitrobenzene (C.sub.6H.sub.5NO.sub.2), propylene glycol (OH(CH.sub.2).sub.3H), hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2O.sub.2), acetic acid (CH.sub.3COOH), acetic anhydride (C.sub.4H.sub.6O.sub.3), butanic acid (C.sub.3H.sub.7COOH), benzenesulfonic acid (C.sub.6H.sub.5SO.sub.3H), benzoic acid (C.sub.6H.sub.5COOH), chromic acid (H.sub.2CrO.sub.4), citric acid (C.sub.6H.sub.8O.sub.7H.sub.2O), hexafluorosilicic acid (H.sub.2SiF.sub.6), fluoroboric acid (HBF.sub.4), formic acid (HCOOH), hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrocyanic acid (HCN), hydrofluoric acid (HF), hypochlorous acid (HClO), lactic acid (CH.sub.3CHOHCOOH), maleic acid ((CHOOH).sub.2), nitric acid (HNO.sub.3), oleic acid (C.sub.18H.sub.34O.sub.2), phosphoric acid (H.sub.3PO.sub.4), perchloric acid (HClO.sub.4), sulfuric acid (H.sub.2SO.sub.4), stearic acid (C.sub.17H.sub.35COOH), trichloroacetic acid (CCl.sub.3COOH), ammonia (NH.sub.4OH), sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO.sub.3), ammonium carbonate ((NH.sub.4).sub.2CO.sub.3), ammonium chloride ((NH.sub.4).sub.2Cl), ammonium nitride (NH.sub.4NO.sub.3), ammonium persulfate ((NH.sub.4).sub.2S.sub.2O.sub.8), glycerin (C.sub.3H.sub.8O.sub.3), ammonium sulfate ((NH4).sub.2SO.sub.4) and ammonium bicarbonate (NH.sub.4HCO.sub.3).

4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the noise is generated by a metal inserted into the body.

5. A pad for removing noise from an MRI image, comprising the composition of claim 1.

6. The pad according to claim 5, which improves the quality of an MRI image.

7. The pad according to claim 5, further comprising a cover accommodating the composition.

8. The pad according to claim 5, which is transformable into a shape of the human body.

9. The pad according to claim 5, which is attachable/detachable to a main body coil, a shim coil, an RF coil, an array coil, a surface coil, a spine coil, a head coil, an extremity coil or a torso coil for an MRI apparatus.

10. A coil for an MRI apparatus into which the composition of claim 1 is injected.

11. The coil according to claim 10, which is one or more selected from the group consisting of a main body coil, a shim coil, an RF coil, an array coil, a surface coil, a spine coil, a head coil, an extremity coil or a torso coil for an MRI apparatus.

12. A method of removing noise from an MRI image using a composition comprising a compound having a functional group capable of hydrogen bonding.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the compound is one or more selected from the group consisting of water (H.sub.2O), amyl alcohol (C.sub.5H.sub.11OH), butyl alcohol (CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CH.sub.2H), ethanol (C.sub.2H.sub.5OH), methyl alcohol (CH.sub.3OH), ethylene glycol (OHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH), formaldehyde (HCHO), nitrobenzene (C.sub.6H.sub.5NO.sub.2), propylene glycol (OH(CH.sub.2).sub.3H), hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2O.sub.2), acetic acid (CH.sub.3COOH), acetic anhydride (C.sub.4H.sub.6O.sub.3), butanic acid (C.sub.3H.sub.7COOH), benzenesulfonic acid (C.sub.6H.sub.5SO.sub.3H), benzoic acid (C.sub.6H.sub.5COOH), chromic acid (H.sub.2CrO.sub.4), citric acid (C.sub.6H.sub.8O.sub.7H.sub.2O), hexafluorosilicic acid (H.sub.2SiF.sub.6), fluoroboric acid (HBF.sub.4), formic acid (HCOOH), hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrocyanic acid (HCN), hydrofluoric acid (HF), hypochlorous acid (HClO), lactic acid (CH.sub.3CHOHCOOH), maleic acid ((CHOOH).sub.2), nitric acid (HNO.sub.3), oleic acid (C.sub.18H.sub.34O.sub.2), phosphoric acid (H.sub.3PO.sub.4), perchloric acid (HClO.sub.4), sulfuric acid (H.sub.2SO.sub.4), stearic acid (C.sub.17H.sub.35COOH), trichloroacetic acid (CCl.sub.3COOH), ammonia (NH.sub.4OH), sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO.sub.3), ammonium carbonate ((NH.sub.4).sub.2CO), ammonium chloride ((NH.sub.4).sub.2Cl), ammonium nitride (NH.sub.4NO.sub.3), ammonium persulfate ((NH.sub.4).sub.2S.sub.2O.sub.8), glycerin (C.sub.3H.sub.8O.sub.3), ammonium sulfate ((NH4).sub.2SO.sub.4) and ammonium bicarbonate (NH.sub.4HCO.sub.3).

14. A method of obtaining a noise-reduced MRI image, comprising: manufacturing a pad including a compound having a functional group capable of hydrogen bonding; attaching the pad to a desired region of a subject; and obtaining an MRI image in the desired region using an MRI apparatus.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the compound is one or more selected from the group consisting of water (H.sub.2O), amyl alcohol (C.sub.5H.sub.11OH), butyl alcohol (CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH), ethanol (C.sub.2H.sub.5OH), methyl alcohol (CH.sub.3OH), ethylene glycol (OHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH), formaldehyde (HCHO), nitrobenzene (C.sub.6H.sub.5NO.sub.2), propylene glycol (OH(CH.sub.2).sub.3OH), hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2O.sub.2), acetic acid (CH.sub.3COOH), acetic anhydride (C.sub.4H.sub.6O.sub.3), butanic acid (C.sub.3H.sub.7COOH), benzenesulfonic acid (C.sub.6H.sub.5SO.sub.3H), benzoic acid (C.sub.6H.sub.5COOH), chromic acid (H.sub.2CrO.sub.4), citric acid (C.sub.6H.sub.8O.sub.7H.sub.2O), hexafluorosilicic acid (H.sub.2SiF.sub.6), fluoroboric acid (HBF.sub.4), formic acid (HCOOH), hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrocyanic acid (HCN), hydrofluoric acid (HF), hypochlorous acid (HClO), lactic acid (CH.sub.3CHOHCOOH), maleic acid ((CHOOH).sub.2), nitric acid (HNO.sub.3), oleic acid (C.sub.18H.sub.34O.sub.2), phosphoric acid (H.sub.3PO.sub.4), perchloric acid (HClO.sub.4), sulfuric acid (H.sub.2SO.sub.4), stearic acid (C.sub.17H.sub.35COOH), trichloroacetic acid (CCl.sub.3COOH), ammonia (NH.sub.4OH), sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO.sub.3), ammonium carbonate ((NH.sub.4).sub.2CO.sub.3), ammonium chloride ((NH.sub.4).sub.2Cl), ammonium nitride (NH.sub.4NO.sub.3), ammonium persulfate ((NH.sub.4).sub.2S.sub.2O.sub.8), glycerin (C.sub.3H.sub.8O.sub.3), ammonium sulfate ((NH4).sub.2SO.sub.4) and ammonium bicarbonate (NH.sub.4HCO.sub.3).

16. (canceled)

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1A shows fruit juice acetic acid, a thickening agent and a glycerin (ultrasound gel) solution for manufacturing an acetic acid pad, and FIG. 1B shows a gel prepared by mixing the above-described materials.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows an acetic acid gel pad manufactured by containing mixed gel-type fruit juice acetic acid in a sanitary vinyl-type container.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a phantom manufactured by adding a clip to a fat container.

[0036] FIG. 4A shows the result of comparing ROI mean values of a general phantom image, a water pad and an acetic acid pad, and FIG. 4B shows the comparison experiment result for a decrease in noise caused by a metallic material, showing the difference between a GE Healthcare auxiliary pad (left panel of FIG. 4B) and an acetic acid pad (right panel of FIG. 4B).

[0037] FIGS. 5A and 5B show the result of comparing an image with noise caused by a metallic material before (left panels of FIGS. 5A and 5B) and after (right panels of FIGS. 5A and 5B) the use of a pad, FIG. 5C shows the result of comparing phantom images according to the difference in magnetic susceptibility of the human body, and FIGS. 5D to 5L show the results of visually observing the improvement in noise caused by a metallic material and an image quality-improving effect before (left panels of FIGS. 5D to 5L) and after (right panels of FIGS. 5D to 5L) the use of a pad.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows the result of confirming the effect of removing noise from an MRI image using water and acetic acid.

[0039] FIG. 7 shows the result of confirming the effect of removing noise from an MRI image using citric acid.

[0040] FIG. 8 shows the result of confirming the effect of removing noise from an MRI image using sodium hydrogen carbonate.

[0041] FIG. 9 shows the result of confirming the effect of removing noise from an MRI image using ethanol.

[0042] FIG. 10 shows the result of confirming the effect of removing noise from an MRI image using glycerin.

MODES OF THE INVENTION

[0043] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following examples or the accompanying drawings. However, the examples or the description of the drawings merely explain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited or narrowly interpreted by the description of the present invention.

[Example 1] Preparation and Methods of Experiment

[0044] 1-1. Manufacture of the Acetic Acid Pad

[0045] Since acetic acid is easy to purchase and harmless to the human body and to investigate whether the removal of noise from an MRI image and an image quality-improving effect can be obtained using the acetic acid, a pad was manufactured using a naturally obtained concentration of acetic acid prepared from fruit juice.

[0046] A small amount of glycerin was mixed with fruit juice acetic acid, and a thickening agent was used to easily attach the mixture to a patient's implant site. Here, the used thickening agent refers to a mixture of glycerin (ultrasound gel component) and a common thickening component, and the thickening agent can be replaced with an ultrasound gel.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 1A, about 1 L of fruit juice acetic acid, a thickening agent and a glycerin (ultrasound gel) solution were prepared, and then they are mixed in a ratio of 200 mL:800 mL (the fruit juice acetic acid:a mixture of a thickening agent and glycerin (ultrasound gel)) until the mixture becomes viscous, thereby preparing a gel (see FIG. 1B).

[0048] Afterward, as shown in FIG. 2, the mixed gel-type fruit juice acetic acid was contained in a sanitary vinyl-type container and stored at room temperature (15 to 25° C.), and then a test was performed once by attaching the acetic acid gel pad to the periphery of the implant at the final stage of the test for a patient who has given verbal consent.

[0049] 1-2. Comparison Experiment Before/after Use of Acetic Acid Pad

[0050] To overcome the limits of a human body experiment, as shown in FIG. 3, using a phantom manufactured by adding a clip to a fat container, a comparison experiment was sequentially performed on various pads, for example, a common phantom, a motion-preventing pad, a sandbag pad, a rice pad (tissue equivalent), a GE Healthcare abdominal fat-reducing pad, water, and an acetic acid pad.

[0051] More specifically, using specified protocol T1 Fat Saturation (Fov 240×207, TR 750 ms, TE 12 ms, Thickness 4 mm, Gap 1.5 mm), an international standard phantom was used as a target, and observation was performed before and after the use of a fruit juice acetic acid component pad. After the test, images of the region of interest (ROI) sites were obtained using MacroView (INFINITT) and a workstation ROI (contrast HU-value; M-view v 5.4.10.61).

[0052] After the phantom experiment, a patient observation test was performed before and after the use of the acetic acid pad, and thus images were obtained.

[Example 2] Confirmation of Experiment Results for Phantoms Before/after Use of Acetic Acid Pad

[0053] For international standard quality control (QC), that is, checking of the improvement of apparatus quality, an experiment was performed using the international standard QC phantom according to the method described in Example 1-2, and then a common phantom image, and the ROI mean values of a water pad and an acetic acid pad were compared. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A and Table 1, the mean value of the non-mounted common phantom image was measured at 2029 (upper left panel of FIG. 4A), the mean value of the mounted water pad was measured at 2318 (the upper right panel of FIG. 4A), and the mean value of the acetic acid pad was measured at 2364 (lower panel of FIG. 4A).

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Type ROI mean value Common phantom 2029 Water pad 2318 Acetic acid pad 2364

[0054] In addition, as shown in FIG. 4B, the comparison experiment for the reduction in noise caused by a metallic material showed a difference in images of the GE Healthcare auxiliary pad (left panel of FIG. 4B) and the acetic acid pad (right panel of FIG. 4B). From the above result, it can be confirmed that the higher the acetic acid content, the higher the ROI mean value, and thus the noise reduction rate was increased. Accordingly, it can be seen that acetic acid reduces the noise caused by a metallic material, demonstrating that the higher the hydrogen content and the higher the concentration of hydrogen, the higher the ROI measured value and noise-reducing effect.

[Example 3] Confirmation of Experiment Results for Patients Before/after Use of Acetic Acid Pad

[0055] To compare the images with noise caused by a metallic material before and after the use of an acetic acid pad, patients were observed according to the method described in Example 1-2. Here, to compare the objective measurement data on the effect of using an acetic acid pad, the ROI mean value of the minimum and maximum standard deviations in an image quality contrast was compared.

[0056] As a result, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C and Table 2, comparing the objective ROI mean values before and after the use of an acetic acid pad, the RO mean value after the use of the pad (right panels of FIGS. 5A to 5C), compared with before the use of the pad (left panels of FIGS. 5A to 5C), were all increased, demonstrating that the image contrast after the use of an acetic acid pad is superior.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 ROI mean value Before pad use After pad use Drawing (left panel of a drawing) (right panel of a drawing) FIG. 5A 380 533 FIG. 5B 462 599 FIG. 5C 852 1011

[0057] Moreover, FIG. 5C shows the result of comparing phantom images according to the difference in magnetic susceptibility of the human body, illustrating that the use of acetic acid pads (right panel of FIG. 5C) in an area of the cancer lesion of the neck, which is not shown in the phantom image (left panel of FIG. 5C), greatly improved the image quality. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 5D to 5L, since visual observation can show that the improvement in noise caused by a metallic material and the image quality improvement effect are obvious after the pad use (right panels of FIGS. 5D to 5L) compared with that before the pad use (left panels of FIGS. 5D to 5L), in MRI images, it can be deduced that the information of the MRI diagnosed region can be very broad using an acetic acid pad.

[Example 4] Confirmation of the Effect of Removing Noise from MRI Image of the Pad Including a Compound Having a Functional Group Capable of Hydrogen Bonding

[0058] As shown in Example 3, human images were obtained before and after the use of a pad consisting of acetic acid as a component, and to confirm the MRI image noise-removing effect of each pad filled with citric acid, sodium hydrogen carbonate, ethanol or glycerin, which has a high hydrogen content, for example, acetic acid, a region of interest (ROI) mean value in the image was measured using the phantom manufactured herein.

[0059] An acetic acid, citric acid, sodium hydrogen carbonate, ethanol or glycerin concentration of 0% represents water (H.sub.2O.sub.2), and an MRI image was obtained by targeting a component containing hydrogen, as a criterion for image acquisition, the natural state, water (H.sub.2O), has been standardized according to MRI periodic inspection and international standard inspection.

[0060] 4-1. Confirmation of Removal of Noise from MRI Image Using Water (H.sub.2O) and Acetic Acid

[0061] According to the method described in Example 1-1, a pad was manufactured by filling a pad with acetic acid (CH.sub.3COOH), and an MRI image was measured.

[0062] As a result, as shown in FIG. 6 and Table 3, it can be observed that, from the left side to the right side of FIG. 6 (the concentration of acetic acid in the upper panels was sequentially increased to 20% and 40% from 0% (H.sub.2O), and similarly, the concentration of acetic acid in the lower panels was sequentially increased to 60%, 80% and 100% from the left side to the right side of the drawing), as the concentration of acetic acid was gradually increased, the ROI mean value was increased, and the noise reduction rate of an MRI image was increased.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Concentration of acetic acid (CH.sub.3COOH) ROI mean value (Mean) 0% (H.sub.2O) 1119 20% 1147 40% 1798 60% 1868 80% 1935 100%  2004

[0063] 4-2. Confirmation of Removal of Noise from MRI Image Using Citric Acid

[0064] In addition, according to the method described in Example 1-1, a pad was manufactured by filling a pad with citric acid (C.sub.6H.sub.8O.sub.7H.sub.2O), and an MRI image was measured.

[0065] As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 and Table 4, it can be observed that, from the left side to the right side of FIG. 7 (the concentration of citric acid in the upper panels was sequentially increased to 20% and 40% from 0% (H.sub.2O), and similarly, the concentration of citric acid in the lower panels was sequentially increased to 60%, 80% and 100% from the left side to the right side of the drawing), as the concentration of citric acid was gradually increased, the ROI mean value was increased, and the noise reduction rate of an MRI image was increased.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Concentration of citric acid (C.sub.6H.sub.8O.sub.7H.sub.2O) ROI mean value (Mean) 0% (H.sub.2O) 1480 20% 1698 40% 1702 60% 1734 80% 1762 100%  1797

[0066] 4-3. Confirmation of Removal of Noise from MRI Image Using Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate

[0067] According to the method described in Example 1-1, a pad was manufactured by filling a pad with sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO.sub.3), and an MRI image was measured.

[0068] As a result, as shown in FIG. 8 and Table 5, it can be observed that, from the left side to the right side of FIG. 8 (the concentration of sodium hydrogen carbonate in the upper panels was sequentially increased to 20% and 40% from 0% (H.sub.2O), and similarly, the concentration of sodium hydrogen carbonate at the lower panels was sequentially increased to 60%, 80% and 100% from the left side to the right side of the drawing), as the concentration of sodium hydrogen carbonate was gradually increased, the ROI mean value was increased, and the noise reduction rate of an MRI image was increased.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Concentration of sodium hydrogen ROI mean value carbonate (NaHCO.sub.3) (Mean) 0% (H.sub.2O) 1216 20% 1439 40% 1653 60% 1622 80% 1734 100%  1730

[0069] 4-4. Confirmation of Removal of Noise from MRI Image Using Ethanol

[0070] According to the method described in Example 1-1, a pad was manufactured by filling a pad with ethanol (C.sub.2H.sub.5OH), and an MRI image was measured.

[0071] As a result, as shown in FIG. 9 and Table 6, it can be observed that, from the left side to the right side of FIG. 9 (the concentration of ethanol in the upper panels was sequentially increased to 20% and 40% from 0% (H.sub.2O), and similarly, the concentration of ethanol in the lower panels was sequentially increased to 60%, 80% and 100% from the left side to the right side of the drawing), as the concentration of ethanol was gradually increased, the ROI mean value was increased, and the noise reduction rate of an MRI image was increased.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Concentration of ethanol (C.sub.2H.sub.5OH) ROI mean value (Mean) 0% (H.sub.2O) 1519 20% 1636 40% 2168 60% 5691 80% 8655 100%  14979

[0072] 4-5. Confirmation of Removal of Noise from MRI Image Using Glycerin

[0073] According to the method described in Example 1-1, a pad was manufactured by filling a pad with glycerin (C.sub.3H.sub.8O.sub.3), and an MRI image was measured.

[0074] As a result, as shown in FIG. 10 and Table 7, it can be observed that, from the left side to the right side of FIG. 10 (the concentration of glycerin in the upper panels was sequentially increased to 20% and 40% from 0% (H.sub.2O), and similarly, the concentration of glycerin in the lower panels was sequentially increased to 60%, 80% and 100% from the left side to the right side of the drawing), as the concentration of glycerin was gradually increased, the ROI mean value was increased, and the noise reduction rate of an MRI image was increased.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Concentration of glycerin (C.sub.3H.sub.8O.sub.3) ROI mean value (Mean) 0% (H.sub.2O) 1397 20% 1488 40% 1503 60% 1538 80% 1702 100%  1712

[0075] It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the above description of the present invention is exemplary, and the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein can be easily modified into other specific forms without departing from the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments described above should be interpreted as illustrative and not limited in any aspect.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0076] The present invention relates to a composition for removing MRI noise using a compound having a functional group capable of hydrogen bonding and a pad using the same, and the composition or pad according to the present invention reduces noise caused by a metal implant in the acquisition of MRI images, has an excellent image enhancement effect, is cheap and economical, has no toxicity in a human body and thus is safe. For this reason, the composition can be used as a component of an image diagnostic device in the field of medical devices, and is expected to be effectively used to acquire noise-removed MRI images in the field of diagnostic radiology.