Selective NMR excitation in strongly inhomogeneous magnetic fields

Downhole Applications of Magnetic Sensors

In this paper we present a review of the application of two types of magnetic sensors—fluxgate magnetometers and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensors—in the oil/gas industry. These magnetic sensors play a critical role in drilling wells safely, accurately and efficiently into a target reservoir zone by providing directional data of the well and acquiring information about the surrounding geological formations. Research into magnetic sensors for oil/gas drilling has not been explored by researchers to the same extent as other applications, such as biomedical, magnetic storage and automotive/aerospace applications. Therefore, this paper aims to serve as an opportunity for researchers to truly understand how magnetic sensors can be used in a downhole environment and to provide fertile ground for research and development in this area. A look ahead, discussing other magnetic sensor technologies that can potentially be used in the oil/gas industry is presented, and what is still needed in order deploy them in the field is also addressed.

Two-dimensional imaging in a lightweight portable MRI scanner without gradient coils

PURPOSE

As the premiere modality for brain imaging, MRI could find wider applicability if lightweight, portable systems were available for siting in unconventional locations such as intensive care units, physician offices, surgical suites, ambulances, emergency rooms, sports facilities, or rural healthcare sites.

METHODS

We construct and validate a truly portable (<100 kg) and silent proof-of-concept MRI scanner which replaces conventional gradient encoding with a rotating lightweight cryogen-free, low-field magnet. When rotated about the object, the inhomogeneous field pattern is used as a rotating spatial encoding magnetic field (rSEM) to create generalized projections which encode the iteratively reconstructed two-dimensional (2D) image. Multiple receive channels are used to disambiguate the nonbijective encoding field.

RESULTS

The system is validated with experimental images of 2D test phantoms. Similar to other nonlinear field encoding schemes, the spatial resolution is position dependent with blurring in the center, but is shown to be likely sufficient for many medical applications.

CONCLUSION

The presented MRI scanner demonstrates the potential for portability by simultaneously relaxing the magnet homogeneity criteria and eliminating the gradient coil. This new architecture and encoding scheme shows convincing proof of concept images that are expected to be further improved with refinement of the calibration and methodology.

Optimization of echo amplitudes resulting from a series of 90° pulses in an inhomogeneous static field

In an inhomogeneous static field, the pulse sequence 90°(x)-(τ-90°(y)-τ)(n) results in a train of echoes, the amplitudes of which settle to be proportional to M(0)/2 after a transient period. Analysis of the spin dynamics of the general τ-β°-τ refocusing cycle reveals that for ideal RF pulses, adding a preparation pulse followed by a delay to the above sequence can either eliminate the transient behavior, or increase the asymptotic echo intensity. This is achieved by controlling the alignment between the magnetization m and the rotation axis of the refocusing cycle. The effect of preparations pulses is demonstrated experimentally in the fringe field of a single sided magnet array. It is shown that for this instrument, transient effects in the echo train can be reduced, and asymptotic signal increased. Spin dynamics calculations indicate that the sequences are robust to finite RF pulse widths, but some discrepancy between theory and experiment is observed due to B(1) inhomogeneity. Refocusing sequences of the type studied here are useful in cases where experimental considerations, such as RF power limits, preclude the use of a 180° pulse in the refocusing cycle.

Pseudorandom selective excitation in NMR

In this work, average Hamiltonian theory is used to study selective excitation under a series of small flip-angle θ-pulses [θ≪π/3] applied either periodically [corresponding to the DANTE pulse sequence] or aperiodically to a spin-1/2 system. First, an average Hamiltonian description of the DANTE pulse sequence is developed that is valid for frequencies either at or very far from integer multiples of 1τ, where τ is the interpulse delay. For aperiodic excitation, a single resonance, νsel, can be selectively excited if the θ-pulse phases are modulated in concert with the interpulse delays. The conditions where average Hamiltonian theory can be accurately applied to describe the dynamics under aperiodic selective pulses, which are referred to as pseudorandom-DANTE or p-DANTE sequences, are similar to those found for the DANTE sequence. Signal averaging over different p-DANTE sequences improves the apparent selectivity at νsel by reducing the excitations at other frequencies. Experimental demonstrations of p-DANTE sequences and comparisons with the theory are presented.

Portable, low-cost NMR with laser-lathe lithography produced microcoils

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is unsurpassed in its ability to non-destructively probe chemical identity. Portable, low-cost NMR sensors would enable on-site identification of potentially hazardous substances, as well as the study of samples in a variety of industrial applications. Recent developments in RF microcoil construction (i.e. coils much smaller than the standard 5mm NMR RF coils), have dramatically increased NMR sensitivity and decreased the limits-of-detection (LOD). We are using advances in laser pantographic microfabrication techniques, unique to LLNL, to produce RF microcoils for field deployable, high sensitivity NMR-based detectors. This same fabrication technique can be used to produce imaging coils for MRI as well as for standard hardware shimming or "ex-situ" shimming of field inhomogeneities typically associated with inexpensive magnets. This paper describes a portable NMR system based on the use of a 2 kg hand-held permanent magnet, laser-fabricated microcoils, and a compact spectrometer. The main limitations for such a system are the low resolution and sensitivity associated with the low field values and quality of small permanent magnets, as well as the lack of large amounts of sample of interest in most cases. The focus of the paper is on the setting up of this system, initial results, sensitivity measurements, discussion of the limitations and future plans. The results, even though preliminary, are promising and provide the foundation for developing a portable, inexpensive NMR system for chemical analysis. Such a system will be ideal for chemical identification of trace substances on site.

Hole-burning NMR in strongly inhomogeneous fields

Different pulse sequences for frequency-selective NMR in the highly inhomogeneous fields of single-sided NMR are explored. A modified Hahn-echo is used to burn a hole in the spectrum of the detected echo. The hole diminishes following molecular dynamics on the scale of the echo time. Preliminary experiments were performed on pure water and natural rubber with the NMR-MOUSE. The results demonstrate the feasibility of hole burning to study slow molecular dynamics by mobile NMR in strongly inhomogeneous magnetic fields.

Fast and simultaneous measurement of longitudinal and transverse NMR relaxation times in a single continuous wave free precession experiment

The purpose of this communication is to describe a method for rapid and simultaneous determination of longitudinal (T1) and transversel (T2) relaxation times, based on a single continuous wave free precession (CWFP) experiment which employs RF pulses with a pi/2 flip angle. We analyze several examples, involving nuclei such as 1H, 31P, and 19F, where good agreement with T1 and T2 measurements obtained by traditional methods is apparent. We also compare with the more time-consuming steady-state free precession (SSFP) method of Kronenbitter and Schwenk where several experiments are needed to determine the optimum flip angle. The role of an inhomogeneous magnetic field on the observed decays and its effect upon the accuracy of relaxation times obtained by these methods is examined by comparing numerical simulations with experimental data. Possible sources of error and conditions to minimize its effects are described.

Self-diffusion measurements with chemical shift resolution in inhomogeneous magnetic fields

A methodology for chemical shift resolved molecular self-diffusion measurements in time-independent static and radiofrequency field gradients is demonstrated. Diffusion encoding is provided by a stimulated echo sequence with additional z-storage that allows for a change of diffusion time without affecting the relaxation weighting. The signal is acquired stroboscopically between the pulses of a train of adiabatic double passages that induces a z-rotation counteracting the phase spread resulting from precession in the inhomogeneous static field, as demonstrated in recent approaches to the goal of high-resolution "ex situ" NMR. Simulations of the pulse sequence show that the acquired signal results from the desired coherence pathway. Successful demonstrations of the experiment were performed on a mixture of water and isopropanol.