Abstract #4522

Macroscopic Meets Microscopic: The Use of Multi Acquisition Variable Resonance Image Combination (MAVRIC) for Detection of Microscopic Objects by Means of Off-Resonance Excitation

Gerrit Hendrik van De Maat¹, U. A. Blume², C. J. den Harder², Clemens Bos³, Chris J. Bakker¹

¹Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands; ²MR CTO, Philips Healthcare, Best, Netherlands; ³MR Clinical Science, Philips Healthcare, Best, Netherlands

We investigated the use of Multi Acquisition Variable Resonance Image Combination (MAVRIC), developed for imaging near metallic implants, for detection of microscopic field disturbers by means of off-resonance excited. By using MAVRIC, the whole range of off-resonance frequencies induced by the disturbers can be covered, which increases the sensitivity of off-resonance excitation and offers the opportunity for quantitative measurements. In addition, the anatomical reference information is preserved. The method was demonstrated for the special case of Holmium-166 loaded microspheres but can also be applied to iron-labeled cells or other objects that have a susceptibility that differs from their surroundings.