Abstract #3605

Jerschow A, Ling W, Schweitzer M, Regatte R

The purpose of the work is to demonstrate the feasibility of achieving a quadrupolar MRI contrast mechanism (QMRIC) in 23Na MRI of cartilage tissue. The pulse sequences are based on frequency-swept pulse methods. Quadrupolar couplings are measured in bovine cartilage as a function of proteoglycan depletion. Numerical optimizations are used to achieve a high efficiency in the selection of the signals from ordered sodium environments.