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D I Hoult

Publications and source records attributed to D I Hoult.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

A high-sensitivity, high-B1 homogeneity probe for quantitation of metabolites.

Accurate quantitation of metabolites in biological samples of irregular shape and inhomogeneous composition is generally acknowledged to be difficult. The difficulties are less pronounced with a probe having excellent B1 field homogeneity, high sensitivity, and a resonant frequency independent of sample size and composition. A prototype probe that aims to fulfill these requirements in wide-bore horizontal magnets is described. It comprises four separate tuned rings on a spherical surface which give a B1 field that is flat to +/- 1% over the design volume. Inter-ring coupling, and to a fifth ring used for matching, is by induction, and the mathematics of the tuning of the system are derived. It is shown that resonant frequency variation with sample size is negligible, and that the sensitivity closely approaches the theoretical limit.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Elimination of signal strength dependency upon coil loading--an aid to metabolite quantitation when the sample volume changes.

The phase, height, and width of NMR spectral lines from a constant number of nuclei are frequently dependent upon changes in probe Q factor and tuning, caused by motion of the sample and/or changes in its electrical conductivity and size. Thus quantitation of metabolites in biological samples can be difficult. When probe tuning and matching are rendered independent by the use of a tuned coupling coil for matching, use of a very low input impedance preamplifier can virtually eliminate such dependencies in the received signal. Likewise, by reciprocity, the use of a low output impedance transmitter greatly reduces the dependence of pulse flip angle upon sample characteristics. Experimental results verifying these statements are presented, and the time course of signals from a swelling, perfused pig heart and an external reference are plotted.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The field dependence of NMR imaging. I. Laboratory assessment of signal-to-noise ratio and power deposition.

A method is proposed for measuring on the bench the NMR signal-to-noise ratio of rf probes, (over the range 1-100 MHz) and also the power deposited in patients during the imaging experiment. The technique is based on the principle of reciprocity, in that a direct relationship exists between the magnetic field generated (upon transmission) by a matched probe coil and the signal-to-noise ratio delivered by the same coil when used as a receiver. The construction and use of a calibrated sense coil for measuring the field is described, and the precautions and theory necessary for accurate measurement and understanding are outlined. Finally, the method is verified by comparison with a direct spectral measure of sensitivity obtained from a small doped water sample placed in NMR imaging equipment.

Calibration↗
PubMed1986

The field dependence of NMR imaging. II. Arguments concerning an optimal field strength.

Some of the factors involved in the choice of field strength for NMR imaging are examined. The influences of relaxation times and chemical shift upon image quality and signal-to-noise ratio are highlighted, and power deposition is introduced as a significant factor which may limit the flexibility and information available at higher fields as long as 180 degrees echo pulses continue to be necessary. Chemical-shift imaging is examined and found wanting as a means of coping with chemical-shift artifacts, and the use of multiple echoes (albeit with research) in conjunction with multiple-slice techniques is advocated as representing an efficient data-gathering scheme which can improve image signal-to-noise ratio. With such use, a medium field strength (0.5-1 T) is presented as representing, for general purpose imaging of head and torso, the best current compromise when imaging time is of major importance, with the important caveat that new techniques may always invalidate this conclusion.

Fourier Analysis↗
PubMed1976

Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance studies on normoxic and ischemic cardiac tissue.

The intact heart of a young rat was excised rapidly and cooled to 0 degree C; its energy-rich compounds were examined by 31P Fourier Transform nuclear magnetic resonance. The heart showed the characteristic spectrum of sugar phosphates, inorganic phosphate, phosphocreatine, and magniesium phates, inorganic phosphate, phosphocreatine, and magnesium ATP, characteristics of the energizing state of the nonbeating tissue. Warming to 30 degrees C imposes an energy load upon the heart consistent with short-term resumption of beating, concomitant intracellular acidosis, and decomposition of all detectable energy-rich compounds. The intracellular acidity causes a shift from pH 7.0 to 6.0. The effects of possible interferences with this pH measurement are considered. The method appears to have wide usefulness in cardiac infarct models for detecting the fraction of the total volume occupied by the infarct and for studying the effect of various proposed therapies upon this infarcted volume.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Frequency shift artifacts in MR imaging.

Chemical shifts may be expressed as distortions and displacements in magnetic resonance (MR) images. Specifically, in two-dimensional Fourier transform reconstructions such shifts produce visible displacements in the direction of frequency encoding. This is readily observable at 0.26 T with phantoms comprised of in vitro solutions with known chemical shifts and human tissues with disparate fat content. Moreover, frequency shift artifacts are visible in routine abdominal scanning at the interfaces of structures of differing fat content. Two common examples of this involve the vertebral body and intervertebral disk and the kidney and surrounding retroperitoneal fat. Without appropriate changes in gradients, such distortions may be expected to increase with increasing magnetic field strength.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hyperthermia system combined with a magnetic resonance imaging unit.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has recently been proposed as a method to monitor, noninvasively, temperature, blood flow, and cell metabolism during oncologic hyperthermia (HT). To heat and "image" simultaneously, it is necessary to combine a HT device and a MRI unit. As a demonstrative example of the problems associated with implementing such a system, a mini-annular phased array hyperthermia applicator was combined with a 0.5-T whole body MRI unit. With the aid of filters, baluns, and switches, the HT applicator and the MRI unit were made compatible. The overall system was tested using a muscle-equivalent, cylindrically shaped polyacrylamide gel phantom. No interference between the HT device and the MRI unit was observed. Noninvasive temperature images, with a resolution better than 1 degree C/cm, were obtained from images of molecular diffusion recorded before and during heating.

Humans↗