Improved contrast in ultra-low-field mri with time-dependent bipolar prepolarizing fields: theory and nmr demonstrations

• Autorzy: Nieminen J. O. , Voigt J. , Hartwig S. , Scheer H. J. , Burghoff M. , Trahms L. , Ilmoniemi R. J.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The spin-lattice (T₁) relaxation rates of materials depend on the strength of the external magnetic field in which the relaxation occurs. This T₁) dispersion has been suggested to offer a means to discriminate between healthy and cancerous tissue by performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at low magnetic fields. In prepolarized ultra-low-field (ULF) MRI, spin precession is detected in fields of the order of 10-100 μT. To increase the signal strength, the sample is first magnetized with a relatively strong polarizing field. Typically, the polarizing field is kept constant during the polarization period. However, in ULF MRI, the polarizing-field strength can be easily varied to produce a desired time course. This paper describes how a novel variation of the polarizing-field strength and duration can optimize the contrast between two types of tissue having different T₁) relaxation dispersions. In addition, NMR experiments showing that the principle works in practice are presented. The described procedure may become a key component for a promising new approach of MRI at ultra-low fields.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

T1 dispersion; prepolarization; polarizing field; ultra-low-field MRI

• Wydawca: Komitet Metrologii i Aparatury Naukowej PAN
• Czasopismo: Metrology and Measurement Systems
• Rocznik: 2013
• Tom: Vol. 20, nr 3
• Strony: 327--336
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 25 poz., rys., tab., wykr., wzory

Twórcy

autor

Nieminen J. O.

• Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science, Aalto University School of Science, P.O. Box 12200, FI-00076 AALTO, Finland

autor

Voigt J.

• Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Abbestr. 2–12, 10587 Berlin, Germany

autor

Hartwig S.

• Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Abbestr. 2–12, 10587 Berlin, Germany

autor

Scheer H. J.

• Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Abbestr. 2–12, 10587 Berlin, Germany

autor

Burghoff M.

• Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Abbestr. 2–12, 10587 Berlin, Germany

autor

Trahms L.

• Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Abbestr. 2–12, 10587 Berlin, Germany

autor

Ilmoniemi R. J.

• Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science, Aalto University School of Science, P.O. Box 12200, FI-00076 AALTO, Finland

Bibliografia

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Uwagi

EN

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement No. 200859. In addition, JN was supported by the Instrumentarium Science Foundation and JV by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany, Bernstein Focus Neurotechnology (Grant No. 01GQ0852).