Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.

Elena Vinogradov

Robert E Lenkinski

David C Alsop

Aaron K Grant

In one aspect, an apparatus for performing chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging on a region of an object being imaged is provided. The method comprises at least one coil capable of being operated to emit radio frequency (RF) signals, at least one detector capable of detecting nuclear magnetic resonance signals, and at least one controller to operate the at least one coil to provide at least one inversion sequence to the region to flip at least some spins in the region by a desired flip-angle, operate the at least one coil to provide at least one first pulse sequence at a first frequency offset from a peak resonant frequency of water by a first amount in a first direction to magnetize at least one exchange group in the region, operate the at least one coil to provide at least one second pulse sequence at a second frequency offset from the peak resonant frequency of water by the first amount in a second direction opposite the first direction, operate the at least one detector to measure a first signal emitted from the region as a result of providing the at least one first pulse sequence after a predetermined time interval after applying the first inversion sequence, and operate the at least one detector to measure a second signal emitted from the region as a result of providing the at least one second sequence at the predetermined time interval after applying the at least one inversion sequence, wherein the predetermined time interval is selected such that positive contrast is achieved with respect to the first signal relative to the second signal.

Positive magnetic resonance imaging contrast methods and apparatus using chemical exchange saturation transfer

In one aspect, a method of imaging blood flow in a region of interest of a subject using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is provided. The method includes introducing an imaging agent into the subject, the imaging agent including a compound having at least one hyperpolarized nucleus having a T.sub.1 greater than 15 seconds and a water-octanol partition coefficient between &#x2212;1 and 1, providing at least one excitation signal to the region of interest, the at least one excitation signal configured to invoke a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) effect at least in the introduced imaging agent, and detecting an NMR signal emitted by the region of interest in response to the at least one excitation signal. In another aspect, the imaging agent includes a carbon-13 enriched alcohol.

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Boston, MA, United States of America

Elena Vinogradov