The NMR blood flowmeter--theory and history.

Research for the application of NMR principles to the noninvasive measurement of blood flow in humans began at the National Heart,Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in 1956, and has continued to the present at a number of institutions. In addition to NHLBI, contributions for the development of blood flowmeters by the University of California, Berkeley and by the Medical College of Wisconsin are described in this peper. The NMR theory applicable to blood flowmeters is also presented, as well as design criteria of NMR blood flowmeters.