Low field slice-selective ZTE imaging of ultra-short $$T_2$$ T 2 tissues based on spin-locking
Abstract Magnetic Resonance Imaging of hard biological tissues is very challenging due to small proton abundance and ultra-short $$T_2$$ T 2 decay times, especially at low magnetic fields, where sample magnetization is weak. While several pulse sequences, such as Ultra-short Echo Time (UTE), Zero Ec...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28640-x |
| _version_ | 1797559603588759552 |
|---|---|
| author | Jose Borreguero Fernando Galve José M. Algarín José M. Benlloch Joseba Alonso |
| author_facet | Jose Borreguero Fernando Galve José M. Algarín José M. Benlloch Joseba Alonso |
| author_sort | Jose Borreguero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Magnetic Resonance Imaging of hard biological tissues is very challenging due to small proton abundance and ultra-short $$T_2$$ T 2 decay times, especially at low magnetic fields, where sample magnetization is weak. While several pulse sequences, such as Ultra-short Echo Time (UTE), Zero Echo Time (ZTE) and SWeep Imaging with Fourier Transformation (SWIFT), have been developed to cope with ultra-short lived MR signals, only the latter two hold promise of imaging tissues with sub-millisecond $$T_2$$ T 2 times at low fields. All these sequences are intrinsically volumetric, thus 3D, because standard slice selection using a long soft radio-frequency pulse is incompatible with ultra-short lived signals. The exception is UTE, where double half pulses can perform slice selection, although at the cost of doubling the acquisition time. Here we demonstrate that spin-locking is a versatile and robust method for slice selection for ultra-short lived signals, and present three ways of combining this pulse sequence with ZTE imaging of the selected slice. With these tools, we demonstrate slice-selected 2D ex vivo imaging of the hardest tissues in the body at low field (260 mT) within clinically acceptable times. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:47:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2deab559da08466d9b1324d4bc0836b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:47:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-2deab559da08466d9b1324d4bc0836b92023-11-20T09:28:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-01-0113111210.1038/s41598-023-28640-xLow field slice-selective ZTE imaging of ultra-short $$T_2$$ T 2 tissues based on spin-lockingJose Borreguero0Fernando Galve1José M. Algarín2José M. Benlloch3Joseba Alonso4Tesoro Imaging S.L.Institute for Molecular Imaging and Instrumentation, Spanish National Research CouncilInstitute for Molecular Imaging and Instrumentation, Spanish National Research CouncilInstitute for Molecular Imaging and Instrumentation, Spanish National Research CouncilInstitute for Molecular Imaging and Instrumentation, Spanish National Research CouncilAbstract Magnetic Resonance Imaging of hard biological tissues is very challenging due to small proton abundance and ultra-short $$T_2$$ T 2 decay times, especially at low magnetic fields, where sample magnetization is weak. While several pulse sequences, such as Ultra-short Echo Time (UTE), Zero Echo Time (ZTE) and SWeep Imaging with Fourier Transformation (SWIFT), have been developed to cope with ultra-short lived MR signals, only the latter two hold promise of imaging tissues with sub-millisecond $$T_2$$ T 2 times at low fields. All these sequences are intrinsically volumetric, thus 3D, because standard slice selection using a long soft radio-frequency pulse is incompatible with ultra-short lived signals. The exception is UTE, where double half pulses can perform slice selection, although at the cost of doubling the acquisition time. Here we demonstrate that spin-locking is a versatile and robust method for slice selection for ultra-short lived signals, and present three ways of combining this pulse sequence with ZTE imaging of the selected slice. With these tools, we demonstrate slice-selected 2D ex vivo imaging of the hardest tissues in the body at low field (260 mT) within clinically acceptable times.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28640-x |
| spellingShingle | Jose Borreguero Fernando Galve José M. Algarín José M. Benlloch Joseba Alonso Low field slice-selective ZTE imaging of ultra-short $$T_2$$ T 2 tissues based on spin-locking Scientific Reports |
| title | Low field slice-selective ZTE imaging of ultra-short $$T_2$$ T 2 tissues based on spin-locking |
| title_full | Low field slice-selective ZTE imaging of ultra-short $$T_2$$ T 2 tissues based on spin-locking |
| title_fullStr | Low field slice-selective ZTE imaging of ultra-short $$T_2$$ T 2 tissues based on spin-locking |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low field slice-selective ZTE imaging of ultra-short $$T_2$$ T 2 tissues based on spin-locking |
| title_short | Low field slice-selective ZTE imaging of ultra-short $$T_2$$ T 2 tissues based on spin-locking |
| title_sort | low field slice selective zte imaging of ultra short t 2 t 2 tissues based on spin locking |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28640-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joseborreguero lowfieldsliceselectivezteimagingofultrashortt2t2tissuesbasedonspinlocking AT fernandogalve lowfieldsliceselectivezteimagingofultrashortt2t2tissuesbasedonspinlocking AT josemalgarin lowfieldsliceselectivezteimagingofultrashortt2t2tissuesbasedonspinlocking AT josembenlloch lowfieldsliceselectivezteimagingofultrashortt2t2tissuesbasedonspinlocking AT josebaalonso lowfieldsliceselectivezteimagingofultrashortt2t2tissuesbasedonspinlocking |