Multi-point K-space point mapping technique in NMR microscopy

Abstract

In microscopic imaging, signal degradation due to field inhomogeneity is one of the main causes of image resolution degradation. The field inhomogeneity due to susceptibility effect by the prolonged read-out gradient results in artifacts such as signal loss and image shift, etc. Recently, a New imaging technique (KPM) was developed to obtain a image without such artifacts. Disadvantage of the KPM technique, however, is the long data acquisition time since the method allows only one frequency component in each pulsing. In this thesis, an extended version of point mapping in K-space for microscopic imaging applications is proposed. The method can offer a number of advantages over the other conventional techniques due to the short echo time (TE) which would improve both signal intensity as well as image distortion. The method is particularly well suited for microscopic imaging due to the potentially easy implementation with the microscopy hardware. With the extended MKPM technique, much faster microscopic imaging which is free of susceptibility and diffusion effects can be performed.