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Increase in SNR for 31 P MR spectroscopy by combining polarization transfer with a direct detection sequence
Author(s) -
van der Kemp W. J. M.,
Boer V. O.,
Luijten P. R.,
Wijnen J. P.,
Klomp D. W. J.
Publication year - 2012
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.23260
Subject(s) - spins , polarization (electrochemistry) , physics , nuclear magnetic resonance , pulse sequence , imaging phantom , chemistry , atomic physics , optics , condensed matter physics
The sensitivity of 31 P MRS can be increased using higher magnetic fields, but also by using 1 H to 31 P polarization transfer techniques where the sensitivity is determined by the polarization of the proton spins and thus the signal‐to‐noise per unit time is unaffected by the slow T 1 relaxation properties of the 31 P spins. This implies that 31 P spins can be manipulated during the T 1 relaxation of the 1 H spins without affecting the signal‐to‐noise of the 1 H to 31 P polarization transferred spins. It is shown here that by combining 1 H to 31 P polarization transfer with a direct 31 P detection sequence in one repetition time, one can gain more signal‐to‐noise per unit of time as compared to a polarization transfer sequence alone. Proof of principle was demonstrated by phantom measurements and additionally the method was applied to the human calf muscle and to the human breast in vivo at 7T. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.