title: RF instrumentation for same-breath triple nuclear lung MR imaging of (1)H and hyperpolarized (3)He and (129)Xe at 1.5T.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The hyperpolarized gases (3)He and (129)Xe have distinct properties and provide unique and complementary functional information from the lungs. A triple-nuclear, same-breath imaging examination of the lungs with (1)H, (3)He, and (129)Xe can therefore provide exclusive functional information from the gas images. In addition, the (1)H images provide complementary co-registered structural information in the same physiological time frame. The goal of this study was to design an RF system for triple nuclear lung MRI at 1.5T, consisting of a dual-tuned transceiver coil for (3)He and (129)Xe, RF switches and a nested (1)H receiver array.
  
  
  METHODS
  A dual-tuned transmit-receive dual-Helmholtz RF coil for (3)He and (129)Xe was designed and constructed to work in unison with a nested (1)H receiver array.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Triple-nuclear imaging (structural and ventilation) and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping of the human lungs was performed in the same breath-hold using the integrated RF system. B1 maps and volumetric ventilation imaging using a three-dimensional, balanced steady-state free precession pulse sequence performed with both hyperpolarized (3)He and (129)Xe indicate good stand-alone performance of the coil for the respective nucleus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Triple-nuclear same-breath lung imaging with a dual-tuned coil ((3)He and (129)Xe) and a nested (1)H array has been demonstrated with a custom RF system.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Madhwesha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jim M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wild
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D062485:Breath Holding; D004867:Equipment Design; D006371:Helium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D014979:Xenon Isotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014979:Xenon Isotopes; D006371:Helium; D006859:Hydrogen
keywords: dual-tuned RF coil; hyperpolarized gas; lungs; pulmonary; triple nuclear imaging