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Abstract #0711

1H MRS in the Human Spinal Cord at 7T Using a Combined RF Shimming & Travelling Wave Transmit Approach

Anke Henning1, 2, Wouter Koning2, Alexander Fuchs1, Alexander Raaijmakers2, Johanna J. Bluemink2, Erin L. MacMillan1, 3, Cornelius A.T. van den Berg2, Peter Luijten2, Peter Boesiger1, Dennis W.J. Klomp2

1Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 2University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; 3Department for Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

Due to its non-invasive nature 1H MRS is of specific benefit to study alterations of biochemical processes in human spinal cord (SC) pathologies where performing biopsies is perilous. However, the finite size and deep location of the human SC limit the obtainable SNR at field strengths < 3T. Hence 1H MRS of the human SC at 7T is introduced to tackle the intrinsic SNR and spectral resolution problems and increase the number of quantifiable metabolites. A dual-channel RF shimming and travelling wave transmit approach is combined with adiabatic inner -volume saturated localization and a 30-channel receive array to obtain optimal SNR.

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Keywords

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