Patent ID: 6538444
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A two dimensional B1-gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imager for in situ, non-invasive spectroscopic investigations and imaging of the internal distribution and speciation of materials of fluid, solid, and semisolid objects in two spatial dimensions, said NMR imager comprising:a hollow electrically conducting cylinder having opposite open cylinder ends, a first cap and a second cap secured to said opposite open cylinder ends to define a toroid cavity and enclose a sample; an elongate central conductor extending along a central axis of said toroid cavity; a magnet for generating an externally applied static main magnetic field B0 to said toroid cavity and said enclosed sample; an RF signal transmitter/receiver coupled to said conductor for generating a magnetic field B1 within said toroid cavity and for receiving a sample response to said magnetic fields B0 and B1; a pivot angle position controller coupled to said cylinder for adjusting a pivot angle position of said toroid cavity and enclosed sample to vary an angle between said magnetic field B0 and said central axis of said toroid cavity; and a positional rotation controller coupled to said cylinder for positioning said toroid cavity and enclosed sample at variable angular orientations relative to an initial position and a plane formed by said externally applied static main magnetic field B0 and said central axis of said toroid cavity, and a computer for operatively controlling said RF signal transmitter/receiver, said pivot angle position controller and said positional rotation controller for sequentially receiving sample responses and for transforming said sample responses to produce a two-dimensional image.