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Prototype phantoms for characterization of ultralow field magnetic resonance imaging
Author(s) -
Boss Michael A.,
Mates John A. B.,
Busch Sarah E.,
SanGiorgio Paul,
Russek Stephen E.,
Buckenmaier Kai,
Irwin Kent D.,
Cho HsiaoMei,
Hilton Gene C.,
Clarke John
Publication year - 2014
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.25060
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance , image resolution , scanner , characterization (materials science) , physics of magnetic resonance imaging , temporal resolution , magnetic resonance microscopy , materials science , physics , optics , spin echo , radiology , medicine
Purpose Prototype phantoms were designed, constructed, and characterized for the purpose of calibrating ultralow field magnetic resonance imaging (ULF MRI) systems. The phantoms were designed to measure spatial resolution and to quantify sensitivity to systematic variation of proton density and relaxation time, T 1 . Methods The phantoms were characterized first with conventional magnetic resonance scanners at 1.5 and 3 T, and subsequently with a prototype ULF MRI scanner between 107 and 128 μ T . Results The ULF system demonstrated a 2‐mm spatial resolution and, using T 1 measurements, distinguished aqueous solutions of MnCl 2 differing by 20 μ M [Mn 2+ ]. Conclusion The prototype phantoms proved well‐matched to ULF MRI applications, and allowed direct comparison of the performance of ULF and clinical systems. Magn Reson Med 72:1793–1800, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.