Flow-enhanced off-resonance saturation for remote detection of iron-based contrast agents.
A switchable contrast mechanism, flow enhanced off-resonance saturation, is presented. This technique combines the effects of flow and off-resonance saturation for remote detection of iron oxide contrast agents incorporated into a vessel wall. Initial results from phantom experiments are presented and show the feasibility of this method. A specific saturation contrast could be observed. This contrast mechanism is highly dependent on field homogeneity and spectral selectivity of the off-resonance saturation pulses. The contrast scales directly with the pulse offset of the used saturation pulses, the flow velocity in the vessel, and the duration of the off-resonance saturation module prior to the imaging sequence. This technique has the potential to detect iron-loaded atherosclerotic plaques in future in vivo applications.
Krämer
Philipp
P
Department of Experimental Physics V, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Helluy
Xavier
X
Kampf
Thomas
T
Lang
Esra
E
Jakob
Peter M
PM
D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging
D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide