Quantitative Molecular Imaging of Fluorinated Agents: 19F Flip Angle Calibration Using 1H Power Settings

Matthew J. Goette¹, Gregory M. Lanza¹, Samuel A. Wickline¹, Shelton D. Caruthers¹

This study presents a strategy to more accurately quantify the sparse ¹⁹F signal from perfluorocarbon nanoparticle emulsions through flip angle calibration utilizing the abundant ¹H signal. We hypothesize that the RF power settings optimized for ¹H can be used to determine the correct RF power settings for the ¹⁹F signal acquired with ¹⁹F/¹H dual-tuned coils on a 3 T clinical scanner. Flip angle sweep experiments using two types of dual-tuned coils were performed, which showed that a coil-specific, but spatially-independent calibration value can be determined to set the correct ¹⁹F power settings using the ¹H signal.