title: Development of a temperature-variable magnetic resonance imaging system using a 1.0T yokeless permanent magnet.
abstract: A temperature variable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system has been developed using a 1.0 T permanent magnet. A permanent magnet, gradient coils, radiofrequency coil, and shim coil were installed in a temperature variable thermostatic bath. First, the variation in the magnetic field inhomogeneity with temperature was measured. The inhomogeneity has a specific spatial symmetry, which scales linearly with temperature, and a single-channel shim coil was designed to compensate for the inhomogeneity. The inhomogeneity was drastically reduced by shimming over a wide range of temperature from -5°C to 45°C. MR images of an okra pod acquired at different temperatures demonstrated the high potential of the system for visualizing thermally sensitive properties.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan. terada@bk.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tamada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kose
mesh_terms: D028483:Abelmoschus / Q000737:chemistry; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004581:Electronics; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D059346:Magnets; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature