Deuterium MR Spectroscopy and Imaging in Human at 5 T Using a Compact and Pluggable X-Nuclei Imaging Platform

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biophysics
• Metabolic Imaging

Background:

• Deuterium Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (d-MRSI) offers promising metabolic quantification but requires high magnetic fields (>3T) for adequate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spectral resolution.
• Existing clinical systems are often limited to proton imaging, hindering broader adoption of d-MRSI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a compact, movable, and pluggable multi-nuclei (X-imaging) platform compatible with a clinically approved 5T proton MRI system.
• To demonstrate the feasibility and clinical applicability of this platform for deuterium MRS/MRSI in human subjects at 5T.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a broadband spectrometer and RF amplifier into the X-imaging platform for wide-frequency X-nuclei excitation and acquisition.
• Synchronization of the X-imaging platform (for RF control) with the 5T MRI system (for gradient control) to enable spatially resolved spectroscopy.
• Adaptation and implementation of pulse sequences for deuterium acquisition.

Main Results:

• Successful first-time acquisition of deuterium MRSI in humans at 5T using the developed platform.
• Phantom studies confirmed accurate metabolite quantification.
• In vivo studies demonstrated clear water and lipid peak differentiation in the calf and captured dynamic metabolic changes after deuterated glucose intake in both Alzheimer's disease patients and healthy volunteers.

Conclusions:

• The developed X-imaging platform enables clinical deuterium MRS/MRSI at 5T, overcoming previous limitations.
• This technology opens avenues for exploring diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring applications of metabolic activity in various diseases.