Brain metabolite phantoms for MR spectroscopy quality assurance, available in three configurations: standard 180mm, oncometabolite variant, and compact 110mm Pico.
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.
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.
Contains seven key brain metabolites (N-acetylaspartate, Creatine, Choline, myo-Inositol, Glutamate, and GABA) at concentrations representative of healthy brain tissue, as well as Lactate, present in ischemic brain areas.
Stable aqueous solution maintains metabolite concentrations over extended periods, enabling longitudinal quality assurance studies and scanner performance tracking.
Provides a consistent reference standard for validating spectroscopy sequences, testing quantification algorithms, and training operators on MRS techniques.
Enables harmonisation of MRS protocols across multiple sites and scanners, essential for multi-centre research studies and clinical trials.
| Metabolite | Abbreviation | Nominal 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 | 2.0 mM |
Example spectra acquired at 3T, TE=30ms
Edited MEGA LASER difference spectra at 3T, TE=68ms
Get a personalised quote for the SPECTRE phantom including delivery and support
180mm outer diameter
Aqueous solution containing seven brain metabolites at physiologically relevant concentrations
| Metabolite | Abbreviation | Nominal 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 | 2.0 mM |
All clinical MRI scanners with spectroscopy capability (1.5T, 3T, 7T)
Temperature: Store and scan at room temperature (20°C)
One year
Get a personalised quote for the SPECTRE phantom including delivery and support
No publications available at this time.
Cross-site calibration, longitudinal tracking, and peer-reviewed validation using the SPECTRE series.
Multi-site spectroscopy study demonstrates phantom-based standardisation for clinical trials
A 22-scanner study across 19 sites demonstrated that SPECTRE phantoms enable cross-calibration of MRS measurements, reducing variability and improving sensitivity for multi-site clinical trials in metachromatic leukodystrophy.
| Feature | SPECTRE | SPECTRE Onco | SPECTRE Pico |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Diameter | 180mm outer diameter | 110mm outer diameter | 110mm outer diameter |
| Number of Metabolites | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| Includes 2HG (Oncometabolite) | — | ✓ Yes | — |
| Primary Use Case | Standard MRS QA | Tumour MRS / 2HG detection | Compact / Small coils |
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