Centric scan SPRITE

Fig. 3.4.3 (a) Two-dimensional k-space acquisition using SPI or SPRITE. The k-space data acquisition is indicated numerically. High magnetic field gradient amplitudes are applied at the extremities of k-space. (b) A generic two-dimensional centric scan SPRITE method. The... 

Cano Barrita [27] cast concrete specimens with w/c of 0.6, dried the specimens at 38 °C and 20% relative humidity, then measured the penetration of water in a capillary uptake type of experiment. A 3D centric scan SPRITE measurement was selected, as an image could be acquired in 150 s and the image would therefore be weighted only by the T2 decay. 3D images were acquired at various exposure times and the central 2D image slice was extracted from the data to measure the penetration depth with time. 

It is important to note that sodium and chlorine are both quadrupolar nuclei and Eq. (3.4.1) is therefore not true for SPI/SPRITE measurement of these species however, Eq. (3.4.2) is correct when centric scan SPRITE methods are employed. 

This provides one more illustration of the value of the centric scan SPRITE methods. 

A centric scan SPRITE acquisition samples the central point of k-space first, such that no T1 weighting is introduced at the k-space origin. The local image intensity at any point in the image is thus given by... 

The centric scan, one-dimensional, DHK SPRITE measurement was used to study the ingress of lithium. This measurement technique was selected due to the low absolute sensitivity of 7Li (27% of [36]), the small amounts that are present and the short signal lifetimes (bulk Tx of 10 ms and T2 of 120 ps). In addition to the robust, quantitative nature of this technique, lithium is a quadrupolar nucleus and interpretation of the image intensity is more complex than spin % nuclei. Once again Eq. (3.4.2) is quantitatively correct for even quadrupolar nuclei due to the fact the longitudinal steady state does not influence the image intensity. 

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