Magnetic Resonance Microscopy: 1. Four-Dimensional Spectral-Spatial Imaging. 2. Diffusional Effects in Magnetic Resonance Microscopy

Abstract

DESIRE (Diffusionally-Enhanced Signal Intensity and REsolution) is a new method for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) microscopy which couples a spatially localized region of saturated magnetization to the surrounding medium via translational diffusion of spins, resulting in amplification of the total saturated magnetization by several orders of magnitude over that obtained in the absence of diffusion. Combined with signal detection at narrow bandwidths of the order of the transverse relaxation rate, DESIRE results in greatly increased signal-to-noise relative to traditional NMR imaging techniques and has the potential for submicron resolution. Both time-dependent and steady-state simulations and analytic expressions will be presented, as well as a one-dimensional DESIRE experiment.