Biomedical subjects

Steven D Beyea

Publications and source records attributed to Steven D Beyea.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Minimization of diffusive attenuation in T2-weighted NMR images of porous solids using turboSPI.

This communication presents the results of T2-weighted nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a water saturated porous volcanic rock using a fast single point imaging technique (turboSPI). Imaging porous materials with heterogeneously distributed mineral products, and air voids, using conventional imaging methods, which introduce T2-weighting by increasing the time between the excitation and refocusing pulses, often results in high diffusive signal losses and susceptibility distortion. T2-weighted images acquired of a water saturated porous rock using turboSPI with an effective echo time of 8.1 ms (actual inter-echo time of 0.9 ms) exhibit significantly decreased diffusive attenuation, compared to analogous images obtained with an inter-echo time of 8.1 ms.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2003

Chemically selective NMR imaging of a 3-component (solid-solid-liquid) sedimenting system.

A novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique which resolves the separate components of the evolving vertical concentration profiles of 3-component non-colloidal suspensions is described. This method exploits the sensitivity of MRI to chemical differences between the three phases to directly image the fluid phase and one of the solid phases, with the third phase obtained by subtraction. 19F spin-echo imaging of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) oil was interlaced with 1H SPRITE imaging of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) particles. The third phase was comprised of borosilicate glass spheres, which were not visible while imaging the PTFE or LDPE phases. The method is demonstrated by performing measurements on 2-phase materials containing only the floating (LDPE) particles, with the results contrasted to the experimental behaviour of the individual phases in the full 3-phase system. All experiments were performed using nearly monodisperse particles, with initial suspension volume fractions, phi(i), of 0.1.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Single point measurements of magnetic field gradient waveform.

Pulsed magnetic field gradients are fundamental to spatial encoding and diffusion weighting in magnetic resonance. The ideal pulsed magnetic field gradient should have negligible rise and fall times, however, there are physical limits to how fast the magnetic field gradient may change with time. Finite gradient switching times, and transient, secondary, induced magnetic field gradients (eddy currents) alter the ideal gradient waveform and may introduce a variety of undesirable image artifacts. We have developed a new method to measure the complete magnetic field gradient waveform. The measurement employs a heavily doped test sample with short MR relaxation times (T(1), T(2), and T(2)(*)<100 micros) and a series of closely spaced broadband radiofrequency excitations, combined with single point data acquisition. This technique, a measure of evolving signal phase, directly determines the magnetic field gradient waveform experienced by the test sample. The measurement is sensitive to low level transient magnetic fields produced by eddy currents and other short and long time constant non-ideal gradient waveform behaviors. Data analysis is particularly facile permitting a very ready experimental check of gradient performance.

Agar↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Studies of porous media by thermally polarized gas NMR: current status.

Three examples of thermally polarized gas NMR performed at New Mexico Resonance are presented to demonstrate its unique advantages in porous media studies. 1) In-vivo animal lung imaging by Kuethe et al., in which useful quality 3D images of rat lungs were obtained in 30 min. It is conjectured that comparable human lung images would take much less time to make, possibly by the ratio of body weights, a factor of several hundred. 2) The success of the lung imaging suggested other porous media as candidates for thermally polarized gas NMR. Caprihan and coworkers obtained excellent images from partially sintered ceramics and Vycor glass. Since then, Beyea has developed the technique of spatially resolved BET curves for ceramics and other nanoporous solids. In this way, surface area, pore size, and porosity, averaged over an image voxel, can be spatially resolved. This greatly aids in the characterization of such materials, especially with regards to spatial heterogeneities. 3) Finally, we describe Codd's propagator experiments on propane gas flowing through a packed bed of 300 microm beads. In order to increase signal-to-noise ratio, the flowing gas was pressurized to 170 kPa. Excellent quality propagators showing the discrete nature of the bead pack were obtained. This type of information is not available in comparable liquid studies because most spins will not diffuse far enough to sample the walls in the time available.

Animals↗