Fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance: calibration and system optimization

Fluorine-19 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers advantages for imaging organs and tissues. 19F is readily synthesized into a variety of compounds and offers the potential for in-vivo imaging as a complement to hydrogen MRI. The purpose of this work was to determine the minimum detection sensitivity for a fluorinated compound (CF3-CO2H) as a function of pulse sequence, interpulse times (TE, TI, and TR), gradient values and the number of data averages. CF3-CO2H was chosen because it has a single spectral line and exhibits a minimal frequency shift under the experimental conditions used for this experiment. A resistance MR scanner operating at a resonance frequency of 6.255 MHz was used for imaging both fluorine (.156 T) and hydrogen (.147 T). Critical factors determining the minimum detection sensitivity included system signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), acquisition time, relaxation times (T1, T2), and sample volume. Samples were measured over the range of 0.05 M to 20.0 M and showed a linear relationship between signal strength and concentration. The minimum detection sensitivity was 0.1 M. Use of higher static fields and optimized coils as well as improved system signal-to-noise ratios will improve detection sensitivity. We conclude that imaging of fluorine on low-field system is feasible, although it is necessary to optimize many parameters to maximize detection sensitivity.