Physics – Medical Physics
Scientific paper
2007-05-04
Superconductor Science and Technology 20, S367 (2007)
Physics
Medical Physics
To appear in Proceedings of 11th International Superconductive Electronics Conference (ISEC 2007); 8 pages, 11 figures
Scientific paper
10.1088/0953-2048/20/11/S13
Magnetic resonance imaging at ultra-low fields (ULF MRI) is a promising new imaging method that uses SQUID sensors to measure the spatially encoded precession of pre-polarized nuclear spin populations at a microtesla-range measurement field. In this work, a seven-channel SQUID system designed for simultaneous 3D ULF MRI and magnetoencephalography (MEG) is described. The system includes seven second-order SQUID gradiometers, characterized by magnetic field resolutions of 1.2 - 2.8 fT/rtHz. It is also equipped with five sets of coils for 3D Fourier imaging with pre-polarization. Essential technical details of the design are discussed. The system's ULF MRI performance is demonstrated by multi-channel 3D images of a preserved sheep brain acquired at 46 microtesla measurement field with pre-polarization at 40 mT. The imaging resolution is 2.5 mm x 2.5 mm x 5 mm. The ULF MRI images are compared to images of the same brain acquired using conventional high-field MRI. Different ways to improve imaging SNR are discussed.
Espy Michelle A.
Kraus Robert H. Jr.
Matlashov A. N.
Urbaitis Algis V.
Volegov Petr L.
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