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Examples are shown of how the derivative of the response of an NMR pulse sequence with respect to a variable in that pulse sequence can be obtained by another pulse sequence. This approach holds the potential of being a tool for discovery of new pulse sequences or a means of understanding how some pulse sequences are related to each other.
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In this paper, the recently developed "Water-PRESS" method of water suppression [W. .S. Price and Y. Arata (1996), J. Magn. Reson. B 112, 190] in which homospoil pulses are used to manipulate the effects of radiation damping on the water resonance and thereby selectively alter the effective relaxation times of the water resonance with respect to the solute (e.g., biological macromolecules) resonances is further developed and applied. In the present work, methods for optimization in terms of degree of water suppression and in temporal terms (important for the application of Water-PRESS to multidimensional experiments) are considered so that recycle delays of less than 2.3 s (including the acquisition time) are possible. Also, a simple modification which allows the observation of solute resonances with relaxation times similar to that of the water resonance is presented. Finally, the inclusion into more complicated pulse sequences is also discussed. Experimental examples using aqueous samples of lysozyme and immunoglobulin are given. Compared to most other NMR water suppression techniques, this method is extremely simple to implement and optimize and does not require accurately calibrated RF pulses or perfect lineshape.
The purpose of this study was to design a keyhole pulse sequence for quantitative 2D dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) based on a spoiled gradient echo T1-weighted acquisition. Saturation recovery was applied to achieve a linear correlation between signal intensity and contrast agent concentration in an arterial input function (AIF) while simultaneously removing time-of-flight effect. To remove ghosting artifacts arising from incomplete presaturation, EXORCYCLE phase cycling with averaging was applied to the pulse sequence. RF spoiling by radiofrequency switching with the synthesizer can be combined with EXORCYCLE phase cycling. Images affected by the large difference in signal intensity before and after contrast agent administration with the keyhole technique were improved by interleaving of peripheral lines of k-space with groups of central lines. Both peripheral and central lines were renewed during the dynamic scan. AIFs were obtained from the rat abdominal aorta with this keyhole sequence.
The pulse sequences HNCACB and CBCANH correlating side chain C(beta) resonances with amide resonances in the protein backbone do not distinguish between inter- and intraresidue correlations. The new pulse sequences sequential HNCACB and sequential CBCANH make this distinction by suppressing coherence transfer between 13C(alpha) and 15N via the one-bond J(NC(alpha)) coupling so that only the sequential correlations are observed in the spectrum. The experimental results of applying sequential HNCACB in a clean-TROSY-adapted implementation to the protein Chymotrypsin Inhibitor 2 at 800 MHz are presented.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the optimal pulse sequence for ferumoxides-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the detection of hepatocelluar carcinomas (HCCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with 25 HCCs underwent MR imaging following intravenous infusion of ferumoxides. All MR studies were performed on a 1.5-T MR system, using a phased-array coil. Ferumoxides (Feridex IV) at a dose of 15 micromol/Kg was slowly infused intravenously, and axial images of seven sequences were obtained 30 minutes after the end of infusion. The MR protocol included fast spin-echo (FSE) with two echo times (TR3333-8571/TE18 and 90-117), singleshot FSE (SSFSE) with two echo times (TRinfinity/TE39 and 98), T2*-weighted gradient- recalled acquisition in the steady state (GRASS) (TR216/TE20), T2*-weighted fast multiplanar GRASS (FMPGR) (TR130/TE8.4-9.5), and T2*-weighted fast multiplanar spoiled GRASS (FMPSPGR) (TR130/TE8.4-9.5). Contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) of HCCs determined during the imaging sequences formed the basis of quantitative analysis, and images were qualitatively assessed in terms of lesion conspicuity and image artifacts. The diagnostic accuracy of all sequences was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis revealed that the CNRs of T2*-weighted FMPGR and T2*-weighted FMPSPGR were significantly higher than those of the other sequences, while qualitative analysis showed that image artifacts were prominent at T2*-weighted GRASS imaging. Lesion conspicuity was statistically significantly less clear at SSFSE imaging. In term of lesion detection, T2*-weighted FMPGR, T2*- weighted FMPSPGR, and proton density FSE imaging were statistically superior to the others. CONCLUSION: T2*-weighted FMPGR, T2*- weighted FMPSPGR, and proton density FSE appear to be the optimal pulse sequences for ferumoxidesenhanced MR imaging in the detection of HCCs.
Three new pulse sequences are described for perturbing magnetization modes in 13C-coupled relaxation experiments via polarization-transfer techniques. Relative to non-polarization-transfer pulse sequences, these new pulse sequences result in carbon NMR spectra with significantly improved signal-to-noise ratios, a condition required for coupled relaxation studies of larger biomolecules. These pulse sequences are used to study molecular tumbling of a 13C-labeled leucine zipper peptide, GCN4-p1, in aqueous solution. Experimental data obtained for the AX2 spin system associated with the 13CH2 moiety of the peptide are fitted to the Favro diffusion model via nonlinear least-squares minimization. The least-squares fits provide values for rotational diffusion coefficients. Diffusion coefficients from relaxation studies performed at different temperatures yield enthalpies for the diffusional motion. Deficiencies in the fits of the relaxation data suggest the need for expanded relaxation models that account for proximate protons in the vicinity of the 13CH2 moiety.
A pulse sequence is presented for obtaining a single image with combined T1/T2 weighting. T2 relaxation is made to increase intensity, in cooperation with the effect of T1 relaxation, by providing T2 weighting with a 90 degrees-180 degrees-90 degrees driven inversion pulse triplet in an inversion recovery method. Unlike the inversion spin-echo method having a short inversion time (TI), signals in the new driven inversion spin-echo (DISE) method need not be negative and the most T1-sensitive region of the recovery curve can be used. Selecting sensitivity to one relaxation time does not degrade the sensitivity to the other relaxation time. T1 sensitivity is thus extended to longer echo times (TE intervals). T2 sensitivity is extended to longer TI intervals, and the combined T1/T2-weighted technique with intermediate TE and TI has highly cooperative and near-maximal T1 and T2 effects on contrast. Intensity is not multiplicatively degraded by T1 and T2 weighting so that the signal-to-noise of the combined T1/T2-weighted method is high. High intensity and T1 and T2 cooperatively occur for a much wider range of relaxation times, and especially for images heavily weighted to the pathologic intermediate and long T1 and T2 regime.
A pulse sequence is described for the recoupling of heteronuclear dipolar interactions under MAS. The method is similar to the PISEMA experiment, but employs a well-defined amplitude modulation of one of the two radio-frequency fields. The technique is used for measurements of 1H-13C dipolar couplings in unoriented solid and liquid-crystalline samples.
A new pulse sequence for abundant-spin NMR in solids, called FSLG240W, is demonstrated. The sequence employs phase-coherent frequency-switching of the rf irradiation to induce opposite rotations around the magic-angle axis in the rotating frame. Three 4 pi/3 rotations in one sense are followed by three 4 pi/3 rotations in the opposite sense. Observation windows separate each rotation. The pulse sequence cancels out the average dipolar Hamiltonian, the first-order correction terms, and the most deliterious second-order terms. The pulse sequence has a short cycle time and a high scaling factor kappa = 1/square root of 3, but is sensitive to rf inhomogeneity. We demonstrate slightly better resolution than either MREV8 or BR24 on a small spherical sample of L-alanine.
This article reviews general pulse-sequence properties and the pulse-sequence techniques most commonly used for clinical MR imaging. The techniques are divided into three major categories: spin echo, gradient echo, and hybrids. The description of each technique emphasizes the basic structure of the pulse sequence, the manner in which transverse magnetization is generated and encoded, and the typical forms of image contrast. In addition, specific advantages or disadvantages of each method are discussed. The techniques described include only a few of the literally thousands of MR imaging pulse sequences that have been developed over the past 20 years. As this brief survey indicates, pulse sequences have been developed that furnish a great range of image contrast behaviors, acquisition speeds, and sensitivities to artifacts. The key to choosing clinically relevant techniques is the appropriate combination of these properties. Undoubtedly, many new MR imaging pulse sequences will join the ranks of the clinically relevant techniques during the next several years.
Tuning of nuclear magnetic resonance pulse sequences with pulsed "crusher" gradients or phase cycling serves to remove unwanted spin populations from the data acquisition window. Verification that unwanted spin population are not detected is often determined by the absence of obvious artifacts in an image. This approach is unsatisfactory in some instances because signal contamination with unwanted spin populations may not be obvious. This is a particular concern with multiple-spin echo, volume-selective, and other multiple-pulse sequences. A solution to this problem is the separation of spin populations using gradient echoes, allowing the existence of unwanted populations to be easily observed separately. Tuning of a pulse sequence is straightforward when spin populations can be independently observed.
Improved pulse sequences DIFN (abbreviation of the words: DIFferentiation by N pulses), 90 degrees - tau1 - 180 degrees tau1 - . . . 180 degrees - tau1 with optimised time intervals tau1- for T1 measurement and contrast enhancing in NMR imaging are presented. The pulse sequences DIFN have a better sensitivity to T1 than the well-known pulse sequence SR. In contrast to the IR pulse sequence, the information given by the DIFN pulse sequence is more reliable, because the NMR signal does not change its sign. For a given time interval tau0 < or = (0.1 - 0.3) T(1) the DIFN pulse sequences serve as T1-filters. They pass the signal components with relatively short T1 < T(1) and suppress the components with relatively long T1 < T(1). The effects of the radiofrequency field inhomogeneity and inaccurate adjusting of pulse lengths are also considered. It is also proposed in this work to use the joint T1T2-contrast in NMR imaging obtained as a result of applying the DIFN pulse sequences in combination with the well-known Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) pulse sequence. The region of interest, where the contrast should be especially enhanced, is specified by the two times at which measurements are performed, which allow the amplitudes of pixels to reach some defined levels by spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation.
OBJECTIVE: Gradient-echo pulse sequences can reduce imaging time and decrease motion artifacts. If gradient-echo pulse sequences are shown to be comparable to spin-echo sequences in MR imaging of the brain, then gradient-echo imaging can be valuable for examining critically ill, anxious, or uncooperative patients and can increase patient throughput. The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare one fast multiplanar spoiled gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state (GRASS) (FMPSPGR) sequence with one conventional T1-weighted spin-echo sequence to determine the reliability of the FMPSPGR sequence for detecting cerebral lesions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with 142 cranial lesions, including brain tumors, infarction, infection, and noninflammatory lesions, were examined. Forty-two unenhanced and 39 contrast-enhanced FMPSPGR (113-240/2.6-3.6/90 degrees/4 [TR/TE/flip angle/acquisitions]) and spin-echo T1-weighted (400-579/11-12/90 degrees/2) MR images of the head were obtained with a 1.5-T system. The visibility, margination, and extent of the lesions; image quality; contrast; and artifacts were qualitatively and quantitatively compared. RESULTS: Supratentorial lesions were more conspicuous on the unenhanced FMPSPGR images because of the higher signal-to-noise ratio of the normal brain resulting in higher lesion contrast. The higher contrast-to-noise ratio of neoplasms on the contrast-enhanced spin-echo images was not found to be significant in the independent qualitative analysis. The conspicuity and extent of other lesions evaluated with the two pulse sequences were not significantly different for either the unenhanced or the contrast-enhanced studies. Vascular pulsation artifacts were significantly reduced on the contrast-enhanced FMPSPGR images. Susceptibility and chemical-shift phase-cancellation artifacts were more pronounced on the FMPSPGR images. CONCLUSION: The FMPSPGR sequence provides high-quality images with fewer vascular pulsation artifacts three to four times faster than the spin-echo sequence. The FMPSPGR sequence can reliably show intracranial lesions and can substitute for the T1-weighted spin-echo sequence in routine brain imaging.
On T1 weighted pulsing sequences, the majority of soft tissue masses are of low signal intensity and show high intensity signals on T2 weighting. There however is a subset of soft tissue masses of varied histology that shows high signal intensity on T1 weighted pulsing sequences. These masses have either fat or blood in their substance. Lipomatous and hemangiomatous lesions that did not show high-signal intensity on T1 weighting were also encountered and are discussed. Present experience with MRI of soft tissue masses suggests that there is a limited spectrum of entities that produce high-signal intensity T1 weighted soft tissue masses.
BACKGROUND: The unmatched soft tissue contrast provided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has made it the modality of choice for many neuroimaging examinations. The fact that signal intensity in MRI depends on many parameters, including spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times, proton density, and velocity, makes it possible to highlight various pathologies by appropriate choice of pulse sequences and pulse sequence parameters. It is somewhat overwhelming however, to filter through various pulse sequences and parameters in order to understand how their selection affects image contrast. This brief review is intended to highlight common pulse sequences and parameters as well as introduce new techniques currently being released for clinical use. MATERIALS: Basic pulse sequences are described and the influence of the acquisition parameters on image contrast are illustrated. Such basic sequences include the ubiquitous spin echo, fast spin echo, and gradient echo sequences. Specialized techniques for fat suppression and magnetic resonance angiography are also presented. Currently approved contrast agents for use in MRI are briefly reviewed, and various advanced pulse sequences, such as those for diffusion and magnetization transfer contrast imaging, are briefly outlined. RESULTS: The utility of basic and advanced pulse sequences are demonstrated by clinical examples and images of normal brain and spine. New sequences and techniques are briefly outlined with regard to their potential for improving neuroimaging examinations. CONCLUSIONS: This brief review outlines how the choice of pulse sequence and acquisition parameters influences the resulting image contrast for a variety of basic and advanced imaging techniques.
The k-space description, of MRI pulse sequences, has been combined with a partition model in order to model the image reconstruction and the contrast behaviour found in SSFP pulse sequences. A partition represents the magnetisation created, due to excitation by a given rf pulse. In the present model, it is visualised as a set of parameters rather than a vector sum taken over a collection of spins. A multidimensional parameter space, where each dimension is associated with one of the partition parameters, is introduced in order to describe the interaction between partitions and pulse sequence events (e.g., rf pulses and gradients). The three k-space dimensions form the first three dimensions and higher orders are used to handle phase dispersions due to diffusion and main field inhomogeneities. The model makes it possible to perform fast simulation of images resulting from general SSFP pulse sequences. A computer implementation generates images (256 matrix), containing more than 10 different T1/T2 combinations, in less than 45 s on a 120 MHz Pentium computer. The contrast behaviour and signal intensities found in simulated images show excellent agreement with data generated using a clinical MRI scanner system.
Fat-saturation (FS) pulse sequences can improve the detection of musculoskeletal lesions. We prospectively compared contrast-enhanced T1-weighted FS spin-echo (SE) images, T2-weighted FS fast spin-echo (FSE) images and inversion recovery (IR) FSE images to determine if any of these three pulse sequences is superior for depicting bone marrow and soft tissue lesions. T1-weighted FS-SE images (400-680/10-20 [TR/TE]) after intravenous injection of gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), T2-weighted FS-FSE (2400-4200/96-112) and IR-FSE (3700-6000/12-14/170 [TR/TE/TI]) images were obtained with a 1.5-T magnet system in 35 patients. The visibility, margination and extent of 37 bone marrow and 67 soft tissue lesions, image uniformity, susceptibility and motion artefacts were qualitatively analysed by four radiologists. The number and size of lesions detected, the mean lesion signal-to-noise ration (S/N) and contrast-to-noise ratio (C/N) were also statistically compared. More bone and soft-tissue lesions were detected on the IR-FSE and T2-weighted FS-FSE than the T1-weighted FS-SE images. The IR-FSE images were significantly better than the T2-weighted FS-FSE and T1-weighted FS-SE images for bone marrow lesions conspicuity (P < 0.01). The soft-tissue lesions were also more conspicuous on the IR-FSE and T2-weighted FS-FSE images than on the T1-weighted FS-SE images (P < 0.005). The lesion extent and image quality were similar on all three sequences while motion artefacts were most severe on the IR-FSE and least severe on the T1-weighted FS-SE images (P < 0.001). Fat saturation was maximal on the IR-FSE images, resulting in a significantly higher mean C/N of bone marrow lesions. The mean C/N of soft-tissue lesions was higher on the T2-weighted FS-FSE images although the differences were not significant. The T2-weighted FS-FSE and IR-FSE sequences are superior to the contrast-enhanced T1-weighted FS-SE sequence for depicting musculoskeletal lesions. Bone marrow lesion conspicuity is greater on the IR-FSE images, with comparable scan time and image quality but more motion artifacts.