• About
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   Institutional Repository Home
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   Institutional Repository Home
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

    All of Institutional RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDepartmentThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDepartment

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Sensitive Molecular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Of Hyperpolarized Contrast Agents In Low Magnetic Fields

    Coffey, Aaron Michael
    : https://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/etd-06092014-132843
    http://hdl.handle.net/1803/12515
    : 2014-06-23

    Abstract

    Nuclear spin polarization <em>P</em> is a key factor in overall Magnetic Resonance (MR) sensitivity, and conventionally is of order 10<sup>-6</sup> owing to the tyranny of its induction by the strength of the detection magnetic field. But various hyperpolarization mechanisms applied externally to the detection field can temporarily increase nuclear spin polarization to near unity (<em>P</em> = 1). The resulting increased MR signal enables a variety of applications, including biomedical use of hyperpolarized (HP) contrast agents to assay cellular metabolism via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), typically <sup>13</sup>C-labeled metabolites reporting on abnormal metabolism. In this work optimization of radiofrequency (RF) coils and hyperpolarizer automation are used to increase the detection sensitivity of hyperpolarized contrast agents (HCA) and improve their production. It is shown that low-field imaging can be more sensitive than corresponding high-field detection when using RF coils optimized to the resonant frequency. The feasibility of low-field molecular imaging of <sup>1</sup>H and <sup>13</sup>C HCA with high spatial resolution (as fine as 94×94 μm<sup>2</sup>) is demonstrated with low-field 38 mm inner diameter RF coils at a static magnetic field strength <em>B</em><sub>0</sub> = 0.0475 T, achieving signal-to-noise ratios suitable for <em>in vivo</em> imaging studies.
    Show full item record

    Files in this item

    Icon
    Name:
    Coffey.pdf
    Size:
    78.57Mb
    Format:
    PDF
    View/Open

    This item appears in the following collection(s):

    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations

    Connect with Vanderbilt Libraries

    Your Vanderbilt

    • Alumni
    • Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • International Students
    • Media
    • Parents & Family
    • Prospective Students
    • Researchers
    • Sports Fans
    • Visitors & Neighbors

    Support the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries

    Support the Library...Give Now

    Gifts to the Libraries support the learning and research needs of the entire Vanderbilt community. Learn more about giving to the Libraries.

    Become a Friend of the Libraries

    Quick Links

    • Hours
    • About
    • Employment
    • Staff Directory
    • Accessibility Services
    • Contact
    • Vanderbilt Home
    • Privacy Policy