title: Nonlinear magnetic field gradients can reduce SAR in flow-driven arterial spin labeling measurements.
abstract: This work describes how custom-built gradient coils, designed to generate magnetic fields with amplitudes that vary nonlinearly with position, can be used to reduce the potential for unsafe tissue heating during flow-driven arterial spin labeling processes. A model was developed to allow detailed analysis of the adiabatic excitation process used for flow-driven arterial water stimulation with elimination of tissue signal (FAWSETS) an arterial spin labeling method developed specifically for use in skeletal muscle. The model predicted that, by adjusting the amplitude of the gradient field, the specific absorption rate could be reduced by more than a factor of 6 while still achieving effective labeling. Flow phantom measurements and in vivo measurements from exercising rat hind limb confirmed the accuracy of the model's predictions. The modeling tools were also applied to the more widely used continuous arterial spin labeling (CASL) method and predicted that specially shaped gradients could allow similar reductions in SAR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Box 357115, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7115, USA. marro@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Kenneth I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Marro
authors.forename: Donghoon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Outi M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Hyyti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000528:radiation effects; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D051381:Rats; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D013113:Spin Labels
chemical_list: D013113:Spin Labels