Techniques, systems and machine readable programs for magnetic resonance

Abstract

The present disclosure provides various methods and systems for performing magnetic resonance studies. In accordance with many embodiments, image or other information of interest is derived from super radiant pulses. In various illustrative methods, beneficial agents can be administered to samples or subjects to be studied. Some beneficial agents can include biomarkers, or precursors to biomarkers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for performing magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging comprising:
 a) providing a magnetic resonance device including (i) a main magnet for providing a background magnetic field along a first direction, (ii) at least one radio-frequency (RF) coil, and (iii) at least one gradient coil that can be controlled to define a region of interest;   b) positioning a supplemental spin reservoir within a field of view of the at least one RF coil, the supplemental spin reservoir (SSR) including a plurality of molecules;   c) introducing a sample or subject to be studied into the field of view;   d) introducing RF pulses into the sample or subject;   e) collecting data for a set of nuclei of interest from at least one of the (i) sample or subject, and (ii) the SSR;   f) adjusting at least one of (i) the circuitry of the at least one radio frequency coil, and (ii) the contents of the SSR in order to induce electromagnetic feedback between the nuclear magnetization of the set of nuclei of interest and the at least one radio frequency coil to cause the vector direction of the nuclear magnetization of the set of nuclei of interest to rotate to a desired angle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vector direction of the nuclear magnetization of the set of nuclei of interest is rotated substantially to zero. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising repeating steps (d)-(f) until sufficient data of the set of nuclei of interest has been obtained in order to produce a useful rendering of the spatial data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first RF coil is used to introduce RF pulses into the sample or subject, and a second RF coil is used to induce electromagnetic feedback between the nuclear magnetization of the set of nuclei of interest and the second radio frequency coil. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising collecting three dimensional spatial data of 1H in the region of interest. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising combining and processing the  1 H spatial data with spatial data of the set of nuclei of interest. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising forming a 3D image rendering of the region of interest using the  1 H spatial data and the spatial data of the set of nuclei of interest. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the 3D rendering illustrates a distribution of the nuclei of interest in an anatomical region. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of nuclei of interest includes a biomarker. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the biomarker includes  19 F. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises administering a beneficial agent including  19 F-FDG to the subject before imaging. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the biomarker includes a metabolite of  19 F-fluorodeoxyglucose. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the set of nuclei of interest includes  19 F-FDG-6-phosphate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises analyzing data obtained from the signal indicative of the presence of  19 F-FDG or at least one of its metabolites in the subject to facilitate the identification of symptoms of a disorder in the subject. 
     
     
         15 . A method for performing magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging comprising:
 a) providing a magnetic resonance device including (i) a main magnet for providing a background magnetic field along a first direction, (ii) at least one radio-frequency (RF) coil, and (iii) at least one gradient coil that can be controlled to define a region of interest;   b) positioning a supplemental spin reservoir within a field of view of the at least one RF coil, the supplemental spin reservoir (SSR) including a plurality of molecules;   c) introducing a sample or subject to be studied into the region of interest;   d) introducing RF pulses into the sample or subject; and   e) adjusting at least one of (i) the circuitry of the at least one radio frequency coil, and (ii) the contents of the SSR in order to induce electromagnetic feedback between the nuclear magnetization of the set of nuclei of interest and the at least one radio frequency coil to cause the vector direction of the nuclear magnetization of the set of nuclei of interest to 90 degrees.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a first RF coil is used to introduce RF pulses into the sample or subject, and a second RF coil is used to induce electromagnetic feedback between the nuclear magnetization of the set of nuclei of interest and the second RF coil.