Application of surface coils to in-vivo studies using ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy

The work described in this thesis is divided into two parts: testing and evaluation of some surface coils, and application of the surface coils to in-vivo studies. In particular, the localization properties of surface coils were examined and optimized using the highest performance coil geometry and wire. Application of the surface coil technique to in-vivo studies involved measuring changes in metabolic status of muscle and brain tissue in rats using ³¹P spectroscopy. The properties of surface coils have been studied by evaluating their excitation patterns with ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. Surface coils, manufactured in different sizes, geometries, and materials were tested for Q factors, signal-to-noise ratios, and pulse widths required for excitation of the sample. A silver plating on the copper wire used to fabricate the surface coils was found to increase the Q and signal-to-noise of the coil. Examination of the excitation patterns of the surface coils with point samples characterized the B₁ field of the coils as decreasing axially and radially from the coil. Calculations of the magnitude of the B₁ field reveal that its dome-like shape extends to approximately one coil radius above the surface coil. It was found that samples lying outside the domain of this "sensitive volume" did not contribute to a spectrum. These data were all correlated and the "0.9" silver plated coil was deemed to be the most efficient coil with which to pursue further in-vivo studies. In-vivo ³¹P studies of rat tissues were preceded by in-vitro spectral measurements of various metabolites at physiological concentrations. These standards were used to aid in the identification of resonances in the in-vivo spectra. Metabolic changes such as artificially induced ischemia in muscle, deceased brain, and artificially induced brain dementia were compared with "normal" ³¹P spectra of anaesthetized rat tissues. It was found that oxygen deprivation is readily observed with this technique whereas the preparation of brain dementia cannot be diagnosed with ³¹P NMR spectroscopy.Science, Faculty ofChemistry, Department ofGraduat