Simultaneous multi-parametric mapping of total sodium concentration, T, T and ADC at 7 T using a multi-contrast unbalanced SSFP.

Purpose: Quantifying multiple NMR properties of sodium could be of benefit to assess changes in cellular viability in biological tissues. A proof of concept of Quantitative Imaging using Configuration States (QuICS) based on a SSFP sequence with multiple contrasts was implemented to extract simultaneously 3D maps of applied flip angle (FA), total sodium concentration, T, T, and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC).

Methods: A 3D Cartesian Gradient Recalled Echo (GRE) sequence was used to acquire 11 non-balanced SSFP contrasts at a 6 × 6 × 6 mm isotropic resolution with carefully-chosen gradient spoiling area, RF amplitude and phase cycling, with TR/TE = 20/3.

Stacked magnetic resonators for MRI RF coils decoupling.

Parallel transmission is a very promising method to tackle B field inhomogeneities at ultrahigh field in magnetic resonant imaging (MRI). This technique is however limited by the mutual coupling between the radiating elements. Here we propose to solve this problem by designing a passive magneto-electric resonator that we here refer to as stacked magnetic resonator (SMR).