@article {332, title = {SQUID-detected magnetic resonance imaging in microtesla magnetic fields}, journal = {Journal of Low Temperature Physics}, volume = {135}, year = {2004}, note = {J Low Temp Phys824TWTimes Cited:37Cited References Count:34}, month = {Jun}, pages = {793-821}, abstract = {

We describe studies of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of liquid samples at room temperature in microtesla magnetic fields. The nuclear spins are prepolarized in a strong transient field. The magnetic signals generated by the precessing spins, which range in frequency from tens of Hz to several kHz, are detected by a low-transition temperature dc SQUID (Superconducting QUantum Interference Device) coupled to an untuned, superconducting flux transformer configured as an axial gradiometer. The combination of prepolarization and frequency-independent detector sensitivity results in a high signal-to-noise ratio and high spectral resolution (similar to 1 Hz) even in grossly inhomogeneous magnetic fields. In the NMR experiments, the high spectral resolution enables us to detect the 10-Hz splitting of the spectrum of protons due to their scalar coupling to a P-31 nucleus. Furthermore, the broadband detection scheme combined with a non-resonant field-reversal spin echo allows the simultaneous observation of signals from protons and P-31 nuclei, even though their NMR resonance frequencies differ by a factor of 2.5. We extend our methodology to MRI in microtesla fields, where the high spectral resolution translates into high spatial resolution. We demonstrate two-dimensional images of a mineral oil phantom and slices of peppers, with a spatial resolution of about 1 mm. We also image an intact pepper using slice selection, again with 1-mm, resolution. A further experiments we demonstrate T-1-contrast imaging of a water phantom, some parts of which were doped with a paramagnetic salt to reduce the longitudinal relaxation time T-1. Possible applications of this MRI technique include screening for tumors and integration with existing multichannel SQUID systems for brain imaging.

}, keywords = {mri}, isbn = {0022-2291}, doi = {Doi 10.1023/B:Jolt.0000029519.09286.C5}, url = {://WOS:000221710600023}, author = {McDermott, R. and Kelso, N. and Lee, S. K. and Mossle, M. and M{\"u}ck, M. and Myers, W. and ten Haken, B. and Seton, H. C. and Trabesinger, A. H. and Pines, A. and Clarke, J.} } @article {383, title = {Low-field magnetic resonance imaging with a high-T-c dc superconducting quantum interference device}, journal = {Applied Physics Letters}, volume = {75}, year = {1999}, note = {Appl Phys Lett259URTimes Cited:49Cited References Count:19}, month = {Dec 6}, pages = {3695-3697}, abstract = {

A spectrometer incorporating a high transition temperature dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is used to obtain nuclear magnetic resonance signals from protons in mineral oil at room temperature in fields up to 3 mT. The spatial separation between the SQUID magnetometer at 77 K and the sample at room temperature is less than 1 mm. At 2 mT, the signal is easily resolved in a single scan. Two-dimensional images of samples consisting of pieces of lucite or glass immersed in mineral oil are obtained at 2 mT. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)03649-9].

}, keywords = {mri}, isbn = {0003-6951}, doi = {Doi 10.1063/1.125432}, url = {://WOS:000083912800035}, author = {Schlenga, K. and McDermott, R. and Clarke, J. and de Souza, R. E. and Wong-Foy, A. and Pines, A.} } @article {405, title = {Low field magnetic resonance images of polarized noble gases obtained with a dc superconducting quantum interference device}, journal = {Applied Physics Letters}, volume = {72}, year = {1998}, note = {Appl Phys LettZg930Times Cited:37Cited References Count:24}, month = {Apr 13}, pages = {1908-1910}, abstract = {

Using a low transition temperature superconducting quantum interference device as a detector, we have obtained magnetic resonance images of laser-polarized He-3 gas and solid Xe-129 at 4.2 K in magnetic fields as low as 0.54 mT (He-3) and 1 mT (Xe-129), corresponding to Larmor frequencies of 17.6 and 11.8 kHz, respectively. The experimental resolution of the images is similar to 500 mu m for He-3 ill the gas phase and similar to 950 mu m for Xe-129 in the solid state. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.

}, keywords = {mri}, isbn = {0003-6951}, doi = {Doi 10.1063/1.121223}, url = {://WOS:000073054300038}, author = {Augustine, M. P. and Wong-Foy, A. and Yarger, J. L. and Tomaselli, M. and Pines, A. and TonThat, D. M. and Clarke, J.} }