Methods for detecting and imaging a temperature of an object by nuclear magnetic resonance
First Claim
1. A method of determining temperature of an object comprisingsubjecting the object comprising a compound to an NMR spectrometer, the compound having at least two forms which are conformational isomers undergoing an exchange process between the conformational isomers which is influenced by temperature,exposing the compound to temperature to influence the exchange process, anddetecting and processing radio-frequency signals derived from the nuclear magnetic resonance of an element of the compound undergoing the influenced exchange process as a determination of the temperature.
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Abstract
A novel and improved method to detect indirectly a temperature of an object employing nuclear magnetic resonance techniques (NMR). The method involves obtaining an NMR spectrum to determine chemical shift, relaxation times, spin-spin couplings or quadrupole couplings for an element of a compound having at least one conformational isomer wherein the compound is influenced by a temperature of the object. Uniquely, the present invention may detect temperature in the body of an animal. Further, the present invention discloses a novel method to determine and monitor thermal physiological states in an animal as well as determine and monitor thermal states in an object. Because of the unique and advantageous non-invasive, non-destructive and non-ionizing properties, the present invention may be employed in an object or animal continuously. The present invention also provides for the thermal imaging, or NMR thermography, by one-, two-, or three-dimensional reconstruction techniques from chemical shift, relaxation times, (e.g., T1 or T2,) spin-spin couplings and quadrupole couplings for an element of a compound having at least one conformational isomer in an object or animal influenced by a temperature in the object or animal. The methods disclosed are applicable to inanimate and animate solids.
61 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method of determining temperature of an object comprising
subjecting the object comprising a compound to an NMR spectrometer, the compound having at least two forms which are conformational isomers undergoing an exchange process between the conformational isomers which is influenced by temperature, exposing the compound to temperature to influence the exchange process, and detecting and processing radio-frequency signals derived from the nuclear magnetic resonance of an element of the compound undergoing the influenced exchange process as a determination of the temperature.
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42. A method for determining temperature in an area of interest in an animal comprising
introducing into the animal a perfluorocarbon or derivative thereof for providing fluorine into the area of interest, the perfluorocarbon or derivative thereof having at least two forms which are conformational isomers undergoing an exchange process between the conformational isomers which is influenced by temperature in the area of interest, subjecting the animal to an NMR spectrometer, exposing the perfluorocarbon or derivative thereof to temperature to influence the exchange process, and detecting and processing radio-frequency signals from the nuclear magnetic resonance of the fluorine of the perfluorocarbon or derivative thereof undergoing the temperature influenced exchange process as a determination of the temperature in the area of interest.
- 49. A method of detecting at least one temperature in an object comprising subjecting said object to an NMR spectrometer, detecting radio-frequency signals in a spectral pattern of a fluorine element derived from a perfluorocarbon or derivative thereof having at least one conformational isomer associated with said object wherein said fluorine element is influenced by said temperature, and comparing said detected signals as a means to detect said temperature.
Specification