Edward Purcell and Felix Bloch discovered the basic of spectroscopy in 1946 (see MRI History). Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR Spectroscopy or MRS) is an analytical tool, based on nuclei that have a spin (nuclei with an odd number of neutrons and/or protons) like 1H, 13C, 17O, 19F, 31P etc.
Through nuclear magnetic principles as precession, chemical shift, spin spin coupling etc., the analysis of the content, purity, and molecular structure of a sample is possible. The spectrum produced by this process contains a number of peaks; the highs and the positions of these peaks allow the exact analysis. Unknown compounds can be matched against spectral libraries. Even very complex organic compounds as enzymes and proteins can be determined. For the wide uses of NMR spectroscopy (from mineralogy to medicine) there is a variety of different techniques available.
See Spectroscopic Imaging Techniques.

(I) Property of all nuclei related to the largest measurable component of the nuclear angular momentum. Non-zero values of nuclear angular momentum are quantized (fixed) as integral or half-integral multiples of (h/2p), where h is Planck's constant. The number of possible energy levels for a given nucleus in a fixed magnetic field is equal to 2I + 1. Similarly, an unpaired electron has a spin of 1/2 and two possible energy levels.

Research Project Description
Lung Imaging X-ray and MRI contrast agents for lung MRI applications.
Blood Pool Imaging MRI contrast agents for vascular and targeted imaging.

Nuclear Imaging Agents based on recombinant human albumin for nuclear imaging.

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GE Medical Systems and Amersham announced in April 2004 the completion of a share exchange acquisition of Amersham Health by GE. The result of this acquisition is the new GE Healthcare, based in the UK, totally owned by General Electric (GE).

Amersham plc, was a producer of contrast imaging agents used to enhance image quality in X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound procedures. It was also a leading producer of radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine imaging. Amersham Health was the firm's imaging, diagnostics, and therapeutics segment. Amersham plc was involved in biotechnology research through its Amersham Biosciences unit, which made scanners, sequencers, microarrays, industrial separations, and other research supplies.

The company is a member of the Bracco Group, a highly innovative healthcare group and world leader in global integrated solutions for the diagnostic medical imaging field. The Bracco Group is headquartered in Milan, Italy. Its North American operations consist of Bracco Diagnostics and Bracco Research USA, both located in Princeton, New Jersey. Bracco Diagnostics is one of the fastest growing developers and marketers of diagnostic pharmaceuticals in North America, with products for various imaging applications, including Isovue® (iopamidol - X-ray contrast agent), ProHance® (gadoteridol - MRI contrast agent), SonoVue® (ultrasound contrast agent) and nuclear medicine products.
Gadoteridol has been available in Europe and the USA for several years. Holder of the Marketing Authorization: Bracco International B.V. - Strawinskylaan 3051 - 1077 ZX Amsterdam The Netherlands. (Contact: Kirk Deeter, Phone: +NL-303-838-8708)

MRI Contrast Agents: