Conformal NMR spectroscopy: Accurate localization to noncuboidal volumes with optimum SNR

Abstract

“Conformal Spectroscopy” is a general method for the acquisition of accurately localized NMR spectra from noncuboidal regions with optimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The method is based upon the localization of volumes defined by a number of intersecting oblique slices and may be implemented using standard imager hardware. Conformal techniques can enhance many existing localization sequences such as ISIS (³¹P) and STEAM (¹H) resulting in typical SNR improvements of around 1.8, equivalent to a more than threefold reduction in acquisition time. Applications include in vivo tumor Spectroscopy.