Magnetization transfer contrast and proton relaxation and use thereof in magnetic resonance imaging
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
InventorsRobert S. Balaban, Steven D. Wolff
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Abstract
A nuclear magnetic resonance method is provided for monitoring and imaging the exchange of magnetization between protons in free water and protons in a relatively immobilized pool of protons in a sample. The method provides a new form of contrast for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of samples such as biological tissues, polymers, and geological samples.
Claims30
A method for obtaining spatial information about the rate of exchange of a reaction using the technique of saturation transfer by collecting NMR data from a sample in which the reaction occurs comprising:
- irradiating a first pool of nuclei with sufficient electromagnetic radiation to magnetically label said nuclei;
- electromagnetically exciting a second pool of nuclei that is in exchange with said first pool;
- applying magnetic field gradients to spatially resolve the NMR signal intensity of said second pool of nuclei;
- collecting and reading NMR data obtained from said signal;
- and
- determining said spatial information about said reaction.
A method for determining the rate of exchange of a proton magnetization between a macromolecule and a solvent by collecting NMR data from a sample in which said exchange occurs comprising:
- irradiating a first a macromolecule with sufficient electromagnetic radiation to magnetically label said nuclei;
- and electromagnetically excite the nuclei that is exchanging proton magnetization with said macromolecule;
- collecting and reading NMR data obtained from said signal;
- and
- determining the presence of said exchange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.