Slow diffusion and flow of molecules measured by pulsed field gradient NMR using longitudinal magnetization of non-proton isotopes

US6794866B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Bruker Biospin GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Fabien Ferrage · Paris, FR
• Geoffrey Bodenhausen · Pully, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: May 12, 2003
• Grant date: Sep 21, 2004
• Expiry date: May 12, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/4608
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A pulsed field gradient NMR (=nuclear magnetic resonance) method using stimulated echoes for determining the translational isotropic or anisotropic diffusion coefficient of a molecule or supra-molecular assembly or the flow rate and direction of fluids containing such molecules is characterized in that the molecule or supra-molecular assembly contains one or several isotopes (X) of non-zero nuclear spin other than protons having longitudinal relaxation times T1(X) that are longer than the longitudinal relaxation times T1(H) of the protons, and that the information about the localization of the molecule or supra-molecular assembly during the diffusion or flow interval is temporarily stored in the form of longitudinal magnetization of said isotope or isotopes. Thus, the determination of translational diffusion coefficients or flow rates of supra-molecular assemblies or molecules with short T1(H) values, in particular of supra-molecular assemblies or molecules with M≧50 kDa is accomplished.