Rotating frame RF current density imaging.

RF current density imaging (RF-CDI) is a new MRI technique for imaging the Larmor frequency current density parallel to B0 in electrolytic media. To extend the use of RF-CDI to biological tissue for generating conductivity contrast, the sensitivity must be increased and the data requirements reduced. A rotating frame approach, in which a large B1 field is applied simultaneously as a rotary echo with RF current, is proposed to meet these requirements. Rotating frame magnetic fields are encoded in the phase of an MRI image. Trials have now been performed with this sequence in a three-compartment cylindrical phantom containing doped water or mineral oil for detecting displacement, conduction and fringe field currents. In a postmortem rat study, 85.56 MHz RF currents injected by implanted electrodes created tissue dependent contrast because of the electrical properties of tissue. A sensitivity and artifact analysis was also performed. The sensitivity of this method is determined by the maximum RF pulse duration. SAR limits pose an upper bound on this time and B1, whereas the avoidance of phase artifacts imposes a lower bound on B1.