(A) localized volume selection technique using oscillating gradients

Abstract

A localized volume selection technique using oscillating gradient is presented. The principle of the presented technique is based on the k-space interpretation of the selection process in NMR imaging. For the practical realization of the presented technique, we use the total four gradients that are composed of the usual x-, y-, z- directional gradients and an additional radial gradient that is axially symmetric. The proposed technique can be easily applied to the localized volume imaging or the spectroscopic imaging. The advantage of the proposed localization technique is that a localized volume can be selected by a single RF pulse combined with two oscillating gradients. The proposed technique can drastically reduce the echo time in NMR imaging where the echo time which is limited by conventional selection technique is too long for the localized volume imaging, especially localized spectroscopy. Computer simulation and the experimental results of the proposed localized volume imaging with KAIS 2.0 T superconducting NMR imaging system are given.