Premium
Improved MR images of arterial specimens by submersion in trichlorotrifluoroethane
Author(s) -
Chu Kenneth C.,
Martin Alastair J.,
Rutt Brian K.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.1910350522
Subject(s) - submersion (mathematics) , mathematics , mathematical analysis , differentiable function
MR Images of ex vivo arterial specimens immersed in 1,1,2‐trichloro‐1,2,2‐trifluoroethane (R‐113) have improved signal‐to‐noise ratio and contrast‐to‐noise ratio. R‐113 has no hydrogen atoms, so it yields no proton signal; hence, the contrast between the specimen and its background is maximized. SNR is maximized because (i) R‐113 is nonconductive so that coil loading and inductive noise are minimized, and (ii) the volume susceptibility of R‐113 closely matches that of water and tissue so that T 2 * effects are minimized. Short‐term submersion of porcine aortas in R‐113 was found to have no significant effect on the artery's hydration level, relaxation time, tensile strength, and structure or quantity of elastin, collagen, or smooth muscle cells.