Showing papers in "Magnetic Resonance in Medicine in 1987"

Transverse relaxation of solvent protons induced by magnetized spheres: application to ferritin, erythrocytes, and magnetite

Abstract: Since 1/T2 of protons of tissue water is generally much greater than 1/T1 at typical imaging fields, small single-ion contrast agents--such as Gd(DTPA), which make comparable incremental contributions and therefore smaller fractional contributions to 1/T2 compared to 1/T1--are not as desirable for contrast-enhancement as agents that could enhance 1/T2 preferentially. In principle, such specialized agents will only be effective at higher fields because the field dependence (dispersion) of 1/T1 is such that it approaches zero at high fields whereas 1/T2 approaches a constant value. The residual 1/T2 is called the "secular" contribution and arises from fluctuations in time--as sensed by the protons of diffusing solvent or tissue water molecules--of the component of the magnetic field parallel to the static applied field. For solutions or suspensions of sufficiently large paramagnetic or ferromagnetic particles (greater than or equal to 250 A diameter), the paramagnetic contributions to the relaxation rates satisfy 1/T2 much greater than 1/T1 at typical imaging fields. We examine the theory of secular relaxation in some detail, particularly as it applies to systems relevant to magnetic resonance imaging, and then analyze the data for solutions, suspensions, or tissue containing ferritin, erythrocytes, agar-bound magnetite particles, and liver with low-density composite polymer-coated magnetite. In most cases we can explain the relaxation data, often quantitatively, in terms of the theory of relaxation of protons (water molecules) diffusing in the outer sphere environments of magnetized particles. The dipolar field produced by these particles has a strong spatial dependence, and its apparent fluctuations in time as seen by the diffusing protons produce spin transitions that contribute to both 1/T1 and /T2 comparably at low fields; for the larger particles, because of dispersion, the secular term dominates at fields of interest. On the basis of the agreement of theory with data for solutions of small paramagnetic complexes, large magnetite particles, and liver containing low-density polymer-coated magnetite agglomerates, it is argued that the theory is sufficiently reliable so that, e.g., for ferritin--for which 1/T2 is unexpectedly large--the source of its large relaxivity must reside in nonideal chemistry of the ferritin core. For blood, it appears that diffusion through intracellular gradients determines 1/T2.

Optimizing the precision in T1 relaxation estimation using limited flip angles

Abstract: In this article we describe the precision in the estimation of the spin-lattice relaxation time T1 from MRI signals acquired for various flip angles with the repetition time TR held constant. We review the estimation procedure itself and present a model for the propagation of noise in the signal into the calculated T1. This model is verified by both Monte Carlo simulations and experimental data taken on image phantoms. Based on this model, we find that for a given TR/T1 there exist two optimal flip angles that will minimize the uncertainty in the estimated T1. We also show how two optimal angles can be selected for a given range of TR/T1 values. In addition, T1 estimation using the two optimal angles can be comparable to or better than using multiple evenly spaced angles. Finally, in an initial comparison with the two-point saturation recovery method of calculating T1, results for equal total scanning time TRTot suggest that for T1 greater than 0.5 TRTot, the limited flip angle approach gives better T1 precision whereas for T1 less than 0.5 TRTot the saturation recovery approach is better.

MR angiography by selective inversion recovery.

Abstract: A modified inversion-recovery sequence is introduced which performs subtraction angiography by varying time-of-flight effects of blood flowing into an imaged slab. The selective 180° excitation inverts different regions between measurements to isolate arterial and/or venous blood. On normal human subjects, high-resolution carotid artery angiograms have been obtained. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.

Errors in T2 estimation using multislice multiple-echo imaging.

Abstract: Accurate T2 images calculated from multiple-echo sequences are difficult to obtain over a number of contiguous slices due to the presence of unwanted echoes that are generated at the slice edges. This problem is similar to problems encountered in single-slice imaging in the presence of rf pulse imperfections. In this paper, we use computer simulations to show that all unwanted echoes can be eliminated by defocusing them using additions to the slice-selection gradients. Accurate T2 images may then be calculated from the remaining echoes. We also present a method of experimentally displaying the slice shapes of unwanted echoes generated by a multislice imaging sequence.

Real-time movie imaging from a single cardiac cycle by NMR.

Abstract: Using a 1-m-bore super conductive magnet at 0.1 T, whole-body transverse images through adult humans have been obtained at repetition times of 57 ms. The techniques used were minor variations of echo-planar imaging (EPI) employing large pulsed gradients to provide complete coverage of the plane in phase space, and low-angle RF excitation sequences allowing rapid repetition of the experiment. In addition active magnetic screening of the gradient coils was implemented to protect the surrounding magnet from the eddy currents induced by the necessarily fast switching of the large gradient fields. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.

RLSQ: T1, T2, and ρ calculations, combining ratios and least squares

Abstract: A method is proposed for calculating images of spin density p and relaxation times T1T2 from MR imaging sequencies with the following characteristics: • it avoids nonlinear iterative techniques and is consequently sufficiently fast to allow calculation ofp, T1 and T2 on a pixel by pixel basis routinely; • it uses all available data simultaneously in an approximately optimal fashion. The method is applied to the combined SE + IR sequence but can be used for other acquisition Schemes as Well. © Academic Press, Inc.

Nitroxides as potential contrast enhancing agents for MRI application: influence of structure on the rate of reduction by rat hepatocytes, whole liver homogenate, subcellular fractions, and ascorbate.

Abstract: With an eye toward the development of nitroxides as potential contrast enhancing agents for MRI applications, we have compared the rates of reduction of 24 nitroxides of diverse structures by rat whole liver homogenate, hepatocytes, subcellular fractions, and ascorbate (10 eq excess). Our results indicate that five-membered ring nitroxides and α-carboxy α-aryl tert-butyl nitroxides are significantly more resistant toward bioreduction than six-membered ring and heterocyclic-substituted nitroxides in all systems. In the case of six-membered ring nitroxides the presence of either negatively charged or positively charged groups increases the susceptibility toward ascorbate reduction. The presence of carboxylate groups tends to enhance the resistance of all the nitroxides toward reduction by liver homogenate, hepatocytes, and subcellular fractions. trans-Azethoxyl nitroxides exhibited the best overall resistance toward bioreduction. The T1 relaxivities of selected nitroxides were measured and found to be similar. © Academic Press, Inc.

Instant images of the body by magnetic resonance

Abstract: Proton magnetic resonance (MR) body images of the normal, adult human which have total scan times of typically only 40 ms per image are presented. There is no loss of spatial or contrast resolution due to motional blurring or ghosting; rather, movie loops of multiple 40-ms images directly demonstrate normal respiratory and peristaltic motion. Manifestation of „traditional” relaxation time contrast is demonstrated for a variety of spin echo (TE) and image repetition (TR) times. The images, obtained at 2.0 T on a new high-speed MR system, have a signal-to-noise ratio for muscle of approximately 30:1 (TE = 30 ms) for a 4.7-mm slice thickness (voxel size = 0.08 cm3). In a study presented as an example, 140 images covering the body from diaphragm to pelvis were all obtained within approximately 10 min. This method may help improve the efficacy of MR body imaging in general, and may play a role in applications which require high temporal resolution. © Academic Press, Inc.

Feasibility study of imaging a living murine tumor by electron paramagnetic resonance.

Abstract: An electron paramagnetic resonance image was measured for the first time from in vivo field gradient spectra of a living murine tumor (Cloudman S-91 melanoma in the tail of a DBA-2J mouse) using the paramagnetic nitroxide imaging agent 3-carboxamido-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline-1-oxyl injected into the tail vein. The experiments were accomplished at L-band frequency (1.55 GHz) with a single-turn flat-loop coil. A cross-sectional image was obtained perpendicular to the tail axis, which clearly distinguished features to the submillimeter resolution level.

Tissue distribution and stability of metalloporphyrin MRI contrast agents.

Abstract: Mn(III), Fe(III), and Gd(III) complexes of tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) and several other porphyrins were evaluated as potential MRI contrast agents. Based on consideration of relaxivity and stability properties in solution, Mn TPPS was found to be the compound of choice. At pH 7 the Gd and Mn complexes significantly enhanced the water proton relaxation rate, while the relaxivity of Fe TPPS exhibited a significant loss of relaxivity above pH 6 due to oxy-dimer formation. Although GdTPPS exhibited the highest relaxivity in solution, this property was rapidly lost due to dissociation of the metal ion. By contrast MnTPPS remained stable in human plasma after incubation for 9 days. Upon intravenous injection into athymic mice bearing subcutaneous human colon carcinoma xenografts, MnTPPS provided enhanced relaxation of the tissue water in several excised mouse tissues, notably kidney, liver, and tumor. The results at a fixed field (0.25 T) and relaxation dispersion studies showed decreases in water relaxation rates with time for kidney and liver, but an increase for the tumor, with a maximum near 4 days at the highest dose used.

An MRI phantom material for quantitative relaxometry.

Abstract: Most phantom media in current use exhibit T1 relaxation times that are significantly dependent on both temperature and operating frequency. This can introduce undesirable variability into relaxation measurements due to temperature fluctuations, and complicates direct comparison of imagers operating at different magnetic field strengths. Our investigations of a nickel-doped agarose gel system have demonstrated near independence of the proton relaxation rates to a wide range of temperatures and frequencies. We therefore propose the adoption of Ni2+ as a relaxation modifier for phantom materials used as relaxometry standards.

Rapid Fourier imaging using steady-state free precession.

Abstract: Reversal of the read gradient in a SSFP imaging experiment allows a full spin echo to be collected in the interval τ between successive rf pulses. Orthogonal gradient pulses are used to dephase and subsequently rephase the transverse magnetization each τ enabling 2D or 3D Fourier techniques. The minimum data collection time per slice in the 3D technique is 3.1 s (128 × 256). For a 2D data collection, an oscillating bipolar sawtooth gradient is used to select the slice. Each phase-encode value must be averaged over an equivalent portion of the oscillating slice-selection gradient and this condition gives a minimum of 25 s for 2D data collection. Excellent slice selection is achieved with less than 5% of the signal lying outside the slice profile central lobe. Images at 0.14 T show tissue contrast may be manipulated by changing the rf pulse angle, an example of which is the presence or absence of gray/white matter contrast at rf pulse angles of 30 and 90°, respectively. The pulse angle θ dependence of five samples with different values of T2/T1 was measured and numerically calculated with good agreement between theory and experiment for θ ⩽ 90°. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.

The anomalous relaxivity of Mn3+ (TPPS4).

Abstract: It was recently reported (C-W. Chen et al., FEBS Lett.168, 70 (1984)) that water solutions of Mn3+(TPPS4) have a surprisingly high relaxivity at 20 MHz and 37oC, greater than most Mn2+ complexes including the hexaaquoion. Because Mn3+(TPPS4) is highly stable, and porphyrins in general are tumor-seeking, we have sought to understand the origin of the large relaxivity by comparing the 1/Tl NMRD profiles (magnetic field dependence of 1/T1 of solvent protons) of Mn3+(TPPS4) solutions with those of a number of other small Fe3+ and Mn2+ complexes. By relating the measured NMRD profiles to the theory of relaxation by magnetic dipolar interactions, in a form appropriate for small paramagnetic solute molecules, we establish that the theory affords an excellent quantitative description of the relaxation behavior of all the samples, and confirm that the relaxivity of Mn3+(TPPS4) is anomalously high. The effect is attributed, in part, to the anisotropy of the ground-state wavefunction of Mn3+ in the porphyrin complex, effectively bringing the spin density of the Mn3+ ions closer to the protons of the coordinated water molecules than would a spherically symmetric S-state ion. In addition, the paramagnetic relaxation time of the Mn3+ spins, though short, is longer than would be anticipated for a non-S-state ion, and increases substantially with magnetic field above about 2 MHz. In this regard, Mn3+(TPPs4) may be one of a class of molecules with properties particularly favorable for use as contrast-enhancing agents in magnetic resonance imaging. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.

Effects of nitroxides on the magnetic field and temperature dependence of 1/T1 of solvent water protons

Abstract: We report a study of the longitudinal NMRD profiles (proton longitudinal relaxation rates as a function of field strength) over a broad range of magnetic field (0.01 to 50 MHz proton Larmor frequency) and temperature (-9.6 to 37 degrees C) for aqueous solutions of (i) a fatty acid-nitroxide/albumin complex and (ii) 10 low molecular weight nitroxides. Analysis of the NMRD profile for the fatty acid-nitroxide/albumin complex provides a lower bound estimate for the rotational correlation time of the complex, which permits the calculation of an upper bound on the inner sphere contribution to relaxation of the uncomplexed nitroxides. Inner sphere processes, ostensibly due to water molecules hydrogen bonded to the nitroxide moiety, dominate the relaxation effects of the slowly rotating macromolecular nitroxide/albumin complex. By extrapolation, the contribution of these inner sphere processes are negligible for rapidly tumbling nitroxides free in solution, which affect solvent proton relaxation almost entirely through outer sphere processes (i.e., translational diffusion). A comparison of the relaxation data for aqueous solutions of the uncomplexed nitroxides with the theory of outer sphere relaxation of J.H. Freed (J. Chem. Phys. 68, 4034 (1978] yields values for the distance of closest approach of the water and nitroxide molecules, as well as for their relative diffusion constants, at five different temperatures. Our results indicate that the rather modest relaxivities of aqueous solutions of nitroxides increase substantially with increased solvent viscosity and with protein binding, supporting the potential utility of nitroxides for enhancement of contrast in nuclear magnetic resonance images.

Selective Fourier transform localization.

Abstract: We have introduced the selective Fourier transform technique for spectral localization. This technique allows the acquisition of a high-resolution spectrum from a selectable location with control over the shape and size of the spatial response function. The shape and size of the spatial response are defined during data acquisition and the location is selectable through processing after the data acquisition is complete. The technique uses pulsed-field-gradient phase encoding to define the spatial coordinates. In this paper the theoretical basis of the selective Fourier transform technique is developed and experimental results are presented, including comparisons of spectral localization using either the selective Fourier transform method or conventional multidimensional Fourier transform chemical-shift imaging. © Academic Press, Inc.

Rapid scan magnetic resonance angiography.

Abstract: The change in phase of transverse spin magnetization induced by macroscopic spin motion in the direction of an applied magnetic field gradient is used to generate projection angiograms. The method can provide a quantitative measure of laminar and pulsatile flow. Cardiac synchronization is not required provided that data are acquired at many points in the cardiac cycle. The use of short TR and a large number of excitations provides better suppression of stationary tissue and patient motion artifacts than is possible with cardiac gated studies. In addition to improvements in image quality, a substantial shortening of scan time is obtained.

31P magnetization transfer studies of creatine kinase kinetics in living rabbit brain.

Abstract: The kinetics of the CK reaction in the living rabbit brain was studied by three 31P magnetization transfer methods: inversion recovery (IR), inversion transfer (IT), and steady-state saturation transfer (SSST). Longitudinal relaxation rates (tau -1) were determined from IR and IT experiments. The values were 0.88 +/- 0.08 s-1 for PCr and 2.45 +/- 0.39 s-1 for gamma-ATP. Analysis of the results of SSST experiments in which gamma-ATP was saturated yielded a forward rate constant kF of 0.53 +/- 0.07 s-1. Upon saturation of PCr no change in the gamma-ATP signal could be detected in SSST. An average reverse rate constant (kR +/- S.D.) of 0.52 +/- 0.04 s-1 was estimated by analyzing IT data from three experiments with selective inversion of gamma-ATP. The standard error of kR was 50%. The average [PCr]/[ATP] of 1.21 +/- 0.16 together with the values of kF and kR yielded a forward-to-reverse flux ratio of 1.23. Within our limits of accuracy this ratio was not significantly different from 1.0, thus suggesting that in the brain the forward and reverse CK fluxes are equal.

Pseudo-gating: elimination of periodic motion artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging without gating.

Abstract: This note explains and illustrates a technique of reducing artifacts produced by periodic motion without using physiologic gating. The method is simple and can be applied on any standard MRI unit. For periodic motion, effective gating can be attained by setting the product of the number of acquisitions (at each phase-encoding step), N, times the repeat time, TR, equal to the period of the motion, T. This pseudo-gating can be used with any TR but, if changes in the period occur, is most robust with short TR values. The method is also applicable to multislice and volume imaging. For fast field echo methods, the above rule can be used if the period of the motion is smaller than the total scan time. Otherwise, the scan need only be repeated N times to avoid artifacts and improve signal-to-noise. The method has been implemented to remove both respiratory and/or cardiac motion artifacts. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.

Adiabatic refocusing pulse which compensates for variable of power and off‐resonance effects

Abstract: Adiabatic 180 degrees inversion rf pulses can be converted to 180 degrees refocusing pulses by inverting the effective field midway during the pulse. Suitable pulses retain insensitivity to large variations in the rf field strength and act over a reasonable spectral width. Such pulses may find application in studies utilizing surface coils.

Intracellular sodium and lithium NMR relaxation times in the perfused frog heart

Abstract: We have used a combination of a shift reagent and mathematical filtering or presaturation of the extracellular sodium resonance for the quantitative investigation of the intracellular sodium and lithium relaxation times in the perfused frog heart. While the T1 of the intracellular sodium was found to consist of a single-exponential time constant (approximately 23 ms), the T2, was better fit as a double-exponential decay with time constants of approximately 2 and 17 ms. However, the relative amplitudes of the two time constants in the T2 decay were found to be inconsistent with those which would be expected from a homogeneous pool of nuclei undergoing quadrupolar interactions. The relaxation times were not changed by a fivefold increase in the intracellular sodium level (due to perfusion with a ouabain-containing buffer). The T1 and T2, of the intracellular lithium (after perfusion with lithium-containing buffer) were both well fit by single exponentials (700- and 31-ms time constants, respectively). © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.

Oxygen‐17 compounds as potential NMR T2 contrast agents: Enrichment effects of H217O on protein solutions and living tissues

Abstract: The isotopic enrichment of solutions, living tissues, and organisms with oxygen-17 in the form of H217O shortens their proton NMR transverse relaxation times (T2) and produces changes in NMR image intensity. The transverse relaxation rate (1/T2) was found to be linearly dependent on the H217O concentration in biological solutions up to 5% enrichment. The longitudinal relaxation time (T1) is not affected by enrichment. Equal concentrations of H217O do not produce the same magnitude of T1 change in all physiological environments. The reasons for these differences are discussed. The results suggest that certain oxygen-17 compounds should be explored as “contrast agents” in magnetic resonance imaging. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.

General solution to the NMR excitation problem for noninteracting spins.

Abstract: The design of an NMR excitation scheme, whether selective or nonselective, is essentially the simultaneous inversion of an array of Bloch equations driven by magnetic fields which differ according to well-defined constraints. We find that if relaxation effects are negligible, nearly exact inversion of the Bloch equations is straightforward when performed in a special time-varying frame of reference. Repeated inversions of the Bloch equations for small perturbations provide the basis for arbitrarily large, optimal adjustments of the magnetization response to an applied time-varying magnetic field. Choice of the target response to be sought at each iteration is not trivial if overall adjustments of more than one-half rotation are required. We present the analysis both formally and in geometric terms and show how it leads to a general algorithm for the optimization of NMR excitation schemes. The unprecedented efficiency of the algorithm and its ability to generate novel pulses from distant starting approximations are demonstrated in the optimization of slice-selective π/2 pulses for inversion and refocusing, and a prefocused slice-selective π/2 pulse. Other applications are discussed, including use of the algorithm to compensate for instrumental imperfections such as radiofrequency inhomogeneity. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.

Comparison of lactate concentration determinations in ischemic and hypoxic rat brains by in vivo and in vitro 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Abstract: An experimental protocol for the quantitation of lactate is demonstrated for in vivo1H NMR surface coil spectroscopy. The in vivo lactate concentration can be calculated by comparing the in vivo and in vitro ratios of lactate and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) NMR signals. With this protocol, approximately 25% of lactate present in the hypoxic or ischemic rat brain is observed by NMR. © 1987 Academic press Inc.

Gradient reversal technique and its applications to chemical‐shift‐related NMR imaging

Abstract: The chemical-shift effect often degrades slice selectivity thereby degrading the contrast and spatial resolutions in a high-field NMR imaging. We propose a new pulse sequence which can compensate for this chemical-shift effect during slice selection. This technique provides correct slice definition as well as clear separation between water and lipid protons in high-field proton NMR imaging. Particular applications of this technique are 2D imaging with a thin-slice selection and chunk 3D imaging, where correction of the chemical-shift effect in slice selection is important. Another interesting application of the technique is chemical-shift-selective (CHESS) imaging. This technique does not require spectral-selective rf pulses and it takes advantage of the chemical-shift effect during slice selection. The latter is found to be useful for human in vivo chemical-shift imaging in high-field NMR. In this paper, the theoretical derivation of the proposed gradient reversal technique, its applications, and related experimental results are presented. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.

Three-dimensional MRI microscopy of the normal rat brain.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging techniques have been developed to enable imaging of the live rat brain with thin (1.2-mm) slices and microscopic pixels (115 × 115 μm). Signal-to-noise ratios high enough to realize the microscopic resolution are obtained with of coils designed for the subject and through the use of three dimensional Fourier spin warp imaging. The technique yields 16 contiguous slices. Correlation with fixed pathologic specimens enables unequivocal identification of gray and white matter structures in the brain of a live 200-g rat. Structures clearly visible in the MR images include Ammon's horn, the hypothalamus, corpus callosum and substantia nigra, as well as a number of brainstem nuclei. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.

Quadrature detection surface coil.

Abstract: A surface coil assembly consisting of two interleaved coplanar resonators that are intrinsically decoupled from each other is described for imaging at 1.5 T. Vector reception fields on-axis at 3 cm depth are orthogonal and of equal magnitude. Both components of magnetization were received and combined resulting in a 2 1/2 improvement in signal-to-noise for temporomandibular joint images.

Chemical‐shift imaging: A hybrid approach

Abstract: The hybrid technique of projection-reconstruction echo-planar (PREP) imaging for obtaining chemical-shift images is demonstrated experimentally using a fluorine sample. The technique which is a variation on echo-planar imaging (EPI) relies on a multipass procedure. It is nevertheless quite efficient and consequently chemical-shift images may be produced in a few minutes. The method produces images in 64 chemical-shift regions, each region mapped spatially by 64 × 64 pixels. The imaging time was just over 4 min. These 64 chemical-shifted images can be straightforwardly added together to form an undistorted image of the complete object. In addition the chemical-shift spectrum can be extracted and the various chemical-shift images can be unambiguously assigned to the spectral peaks.

The effects of finite sampling in spin-echo or field-echo magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: The artifacts associated with finite sampling in magnetic resonance imaging are shown to be significant when the ratio of half the sampling time, Ts/2, to transverse relaxation time, T2 is on the order of unity or greater. For both symmetric and asymmetric sampling, these artifacts include enhanced high spatial frequency image intensity (bright edges), induced systematic noise, loss of resolution, and changes in phase. Simple filtering of the raw data does not remove the problem in tissues with positiondependent T2 values. An exact deconvolution method is described to remove these problems associated with finite position-dependent T2 values. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.

19F magnetic resonance imaging of the reticuloendothelial system

Abstract: In this study sequential 1H and 19F magnetic resonance imaging methods were used to map the distribution of fluorinated compounds in vivo. An intravenously administered emulsion of perfluorooctylbromide (PFOB), an agent known to localize in the reticuloendothelial system, was detected in the liver and spleen of all studied hamsters and mice using 19F MRI. Lungs and salivary glands were also affected in some animals. Using a G. E. NMR CSI 2-T spectroscopy/imaging system, projection 19F images were obtained in 4 to 8 min. Subsequent mouse studies using a thick-slice driven equilibrium pulse sequence produced 19F images with an improved signal-to-noise ratio in a shorter acquisition time. With PFOB, 19F MRI has the capability of detecting macrophages in the reticulo-endothelial system and in other sites where macrophages congregate. This is the first report where the reticuloendothelial system was specifically imaged in live animals and where driven equilibrium imaging techniques have been applied to 19F MRI.

Surface coil for MR imaging of the skin.

Abstract: A strategy for the design of surface coils for the imaging of extended superficial planar anatomic structures including skin and subcutaneous fat is presented. The central concept is to create an array of closely spaced coplanar radiofrequency current filaments parallel to BO, the polarizing field, with opposite current directions in adjacent filaments. A specific coil design with four such filaments for imaging at 1.5 T is presented. It consists of two pairs of counterrotating current (CRC) coils. Phantom images as well as representative images of normal skin are shown.