NMR planar micro coils for micro spectroscopy: design and characterisation

The goal of this study is to determine the concentration sensitivity and the limit of detection of a SNMR receiver planar micro coil with ellipsoidal geometry 1000x500 microm, fabricated using an electroplating technique and used as SNMR receiver coil at 200 MHz. The maximum signal intensity on the NMR images and simulation of RF field distribution allows defining an active volume of 0.8 microL. The localised spectroscopy based on a PRESS sequence shows that the concentration sensitivity is closed to S(C)=2.33 M(-1) and the limit of detection LOD=0.8 M. This micro-system offers the possibility of new investigation techniques based on implantable micro coils used for in vivo study of local cerebral metabolites occupying a small volume (microL to nL order).