@article {269, title = {Distortion-free magnetic resonance imaging in the zero-field limit}, journal = {Journal of Magnetic Resonance}, volume = {200}, year = {2009}, note = {J Magn Reson526AWTimes Cited:6Cited References Count:29}, month = {Oct}, pages = {285-290}, abstract = {

MRI is a powerful technique for clinical diagnosis and materials characterization. Images are acquired in a homogeneous static magnetic field much higher than the fields generated across the field of view by the spatially encoding field gradients. Without such a high field, the concomitant components of the field gradient dictated by Maxwell\&$\#$39;s equations lead to severe distortions that make imaging impossible with conventional MRI encoding. In this paper, we present a distortion-free image of a phantom acquired with a fundamentally different methodology in which the applied static field approaches zero. Our technique involves encoding with pulses of uniform and gradient field, and acquiring the magnetic field signals with a SQUID. The method can be extended to weak ambient fields, potentially enabling imaging in the Earth\&$\#$39;s field without cancellation coils or shielding. Other potential applications include quantum information processing and fundamental studies of long-range ferromagnetic interactions. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {gradients}, isbn = {1090-7807}, doi = {Doi 10.1016/J.Jmr.2009.07.016}, url = {://WOS:000272260900015}, author = {Kelso, N. and Lee, S. K. and Bouchard, L. S. and Demas, V. and M{\"u}ck, M. and Pines, A. and Clarke, J.} } @article {298, title = {SQUID-detected microtesla MRI in the presence of metal}, journal = {Journal of Magnetic Resonance}, volume = {179}, year = {2006}, note = {J Magn Reson035CMTimes Cited:36Cited References Count:23}, month = {Mar}, pages = {146-151}, abstract = {

In magnetic resonance imaging performed at fields of I T and above, the presence of a metal insert can distort the image because of susceptibility differences within the sample and modification of the radiofrequency fields by screening currents. Furthermore, it is not feasible to perform nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy or acquire a magnetic resonance image if the sample is enclosed in a metal container. Both problems can be overcome by substantially lowering the NMR frequency. Using a microtesla imaging system operating at 2.8 kHz, with a superconducting quantum interference device as the signal detector, we have obtained distortion-free images of a phantom containing a titanium bar and three-dimensional images of an object enclosed in an aluminum can; in both cases high-field images are inaccessible. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {nmr}, isbn = {1090-7807}, doi = {Doi 10.1016/J.Jmr.2005.11.005}, url = {://WOS:000236977600019}, author = {Mossle, M. and Han, S. I. and Myers, W. R. and Lee, S. K. and Kelso, N. and Hatridge, M. and Pines, A. and Clarke, J.} } @article {309, title = {SQUID-detected in vivo MRI at microtesla magnetic fields}, journal = {Ieee Transactions on Applied Superconductivity}, volume = {15}, year = {2005}, note = {Ieee T Appl SuperconPart 1935FOTimes Cited:24Cited References Count:15}, month = {Jun}, pages = {757-760}, abstract = {

We use a low transition temperature (T(c)) Super-conducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) to perform in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at magnetic fields around 100 microtesla, corresponding to proton Larmor frequencies of about 5 kHz. In such low fields, broadening of the nuclear magnetic resonance lines due to inhomogeneous magnetic fields and susceptibility variations of the sample are minimized, enabling us to obtain high quality images. To reduce environmental noise the signal is detected by a second-order gradiometer, coupled to the SQUID, and the experiment is surrounded by a 3-mm thick Al shield. To increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), we prepolarize the samples in a field up to 100 mT. Three-dimensional images are acquired in less than 6 minutes with a standard spin-echo phase-encoding sequence. Using encoding gradients of similar to 100 mu T/m we obtain three-dimensional images of bell peppers with a resolution of 2 x 2 x 8 mm(3). Our system is ideally suited to acquiring images of small, peripheral parts of the human body such as hands and arms. In vivo images of an arm, acquired at 132 mu T, show 24-mm sections of the forearm with a resolution of 3 x 3 mm(2). and a SNR of 10. We discuss possible applications of MRI at these low magnetic fields.

}, keywords = {nmr}, isbn = {1051-8223}, doi = {Doi 10.1109/Tasc.2005.850043}, url = {://WOS:000229765300170}, author = {Mossle, M. and Myers, W. R. and Lee, S. K. and Kelso, N. and Hatridge, M. and Pines, A. and Clarke, J.} } @article {314, title = {SQUID-detected MRI at 132 mu T with T(1)-weighted contrast established at 10 mu T-300 mT}, journal = {Magnetic Resonance in Medicine}, volume = {53}, year = {2005}, note = {Magn Reson Med888NETimes Cited:73Cited References Count:20}, month = {Jan}, pages = {9-14}, abstract = {

T(1)-weighted contrast MRI with prepolarization was detected with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). A spin evolution period in a variable field between prepolarization and detection enabled the measurement of T(1) in fields between 1.7 muT and 300 mT; T, dispersion curves of agarose gel samples over five decades in frequency were obtained. SQUID detection at 5.6 kHz drastically reduces the field homogeneity requirements compared to conventional field-cycling methods using Faraday coil detection. This allows T(1) dispersion measurements to be easily combined with MRI, so that T(1) in a wide range of fields can be used for tissue contrast. Images of gel phantoms with T(1)-weighted contrast at four different fields between 10 muT and 300 mT demonstrated dramatic contrast enhancement in low fields. A modified inversion recovery technique further enhanced the contrast by selectively suppressing the signal contribution for a specific value of the low-field T(1). Published 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

}, keywords = {dispersion}, isbn = {0740-3194}, doi = {Doi 10.1002/Mrm.20316}, url = {://WOS:000226380700003}, author = {Lee, S. K. and Mossle, M. and Myers, W. and Kelso, N. and Trabesinger, A. H. and Pines, A. and Clarke, J.} } @article {331, title = {Microtesla MRI with a superconducting quantum interference device}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {101}, year = {2004}, note = {P Natl Acad Sci USA823ZCTimes Cited:76Cited References Count:29}, month = {May 25}, pages = {7857-7861}, abstract = {

MRI scanners enable fast, noninvasive, and high-resolution imaging of organs and soft tissue. The images are reconstructed from NMR signals generated by nuclear spins that precess in a static magnetic field B(0) in the presence of magnetic field gradients. Most clinical MRI scanners operate at a magnetic field B(0) = 1.5 T, corresponding to a proton resonance frequency of 64 MHz. Because these systems rely on large superconducting magnets, they are costly and demanding of infrastructure. On the other hand, low-field imagers have the potential to be less expensive, less confining, and more mobile. The major obstacle is the intrinsically low sensitivity of the low-field NMR experiment. Here, we show that prepolarization of the nuclear spins and detection with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) yield a signal that is independent of B(0), allowing acquisition of high-resolution MRIs in microtesla fields. Reduction of the strength of the measurement field eliminates inhomogeneous broadening of the NMR lines, resulting in enhanced signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution for a fixed strength of the magnetic field gradients used to encode the image. We present high-resolution images of phantoms and other samples and T(1)-weighted contrast images acquired in highly inhomogeneous magnetic fields of 132 muT; here, T, is the spin-lattice relaxation time. These techniques could readily be adapted to existing multichannel SQUID systems used for magnetic source imaging of brain signals. Further potential applications include low-cost systems for tumor screening and imaging peripheral regions of the body.

}, keywords = {system}, isbn = {0027-8424}, doi = {Doi 10.1073/Pnas.0402382101}, url = {://WOS:000221652000005}, author = {McDermott, R. and Lee, S. K. and ten Haken, B. and Trabesinger, A. H. and Pines, A. and Clarke, J.} } @article {322, title = {SQUID-detected liquid state NMR in microtesla fields}, journal = {Journal of Physical Chemistry A}, volume = {108}, year = {2004}, note = {J Phys Chem A772FTTimes Cited:32Cited References Count:36}, month = {Feb 12}, pages = {957-963}, abstract = {

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments performed in magnetic fields on the order of microtesla yield line widths comparable to the lifetime limit even in grossly inhomogeneous magnets. The potential loss in sensitivity is overcome by combining prepolarization in fields on the order of millitesla and signal detection with a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID). The enhanced spectral resolution attainable in microtesla fields enables NMR studies of pure liquids and solutions without the need for strong magnets. We have investigated a variety of heteronuclear systems in both the weak and strong J-coupling regimes. Six different nuclear species have been detected with the same experimental apparatus. NMR signals of thermally polarized protons were obtained in fields as low as 554 nT.

}, keywords = {water}, isbn = {1089-5639}, doi = {Doi 10.1021/Jp035181g}, url = {://WOS:000188831500005}, author = {Trabesinger, A. H. and McDermott, R. and Lee, S. K. and M{\"u}ck, M. and Clarke, J. and Pines, A.} } @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.} }