SPECTRE
Spectroscopy Phantom for Evaluation and Calibration of Technique and Reference
Brain metabolite phantom for MR spectroscopy quality assurance
The SPECTRE phantom contains seven brain metabolites (NAA, Cr, Cho, Ins, Glu, Lac, GABA) at physiological concentrations in a stable, homogeneous solution. Designed for MR spectroscopy quality assurance, calibration, and validation of quantification methods.
Why SPECTRE?
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) enables non-invasive measurement of brain metabolites, but requires careful quality assurance to ensure accurate quantification. The SPECTRE phantom provides a stable reference standard containing physiologically relevant metabolite concentrations for validating MRS acquisition and analysis protocols.
Physiological Metabolite Concentrations
Contains seven key brain metabolites (N-acetylaspartate, Creatine, Choline, myo-Inositol, Glutamate, Lactate, and GABA) at concentrations representative of healthy brain tissue.
Long-Term Stability
Stable aqueous solution maintains metabolite concentrations over extended periods, enabling longitudinal quality assurance studies and scanner performance tracking.
Standardised Reference
Provides a consistent reference standard for validating spectroscopy sequences, testing quantification algorithms, and training operators on MRS techniques.
Multi-Centre Studies
Enables harmonisation of MRS protocols across multiple sites and scanners, essential for multi-centre research studies and clinical trials.
Brain Metabolites Included
| Metabolite | Abbreviation | Concentration |
|---|---|---|
| N-acetylaspartate | NAA | ~12.5 mM |
| Creatine | Cr | ~10.0 mM |
| Choline | Cho | ~3.0 mM |
| myo-Inositol | Ins | ~7.5 mM |
| Glutamate | Glu | ~12.5 mM |
| Lactate | Lac | ~5.0 mM |
| γ-Aminobutyric acid | GABA | ~3.0 mM |
Example Spectra
Example spectra acquired at 3T, TE=30ms
Edited MEGA LASER difference spectra at 3T, TE=68ms