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Abstract:
In this paper, we discuss the requirements for an NMR setup to allow for combined NMR microscopy and spectroscopy using planar microcoils to study metabolic processes in vivo. Here, NMR is particularly suitable because — unlike most other currently used methods — it can deliver structural information as well as qualitative and quantitative information about the molecules involved in cellular processes. More specifically, based on the reciprocity principle, we derive why previously presented fully-integrated CMOS receivers using on-chip NMR coils in receive-only mode are not suitable for in-vivo spectroscopy applications. As a solution to this problem, we propose the use of fully-integrated transceivers which use their on-chip planar microcoils in TX/RX mode as an ideal tool for combined in-vivo NMR imaging and spectroscopy. Measurements using a planar coil on a thin silicon substrate validate the theoretical analysis.
