title: An efficient design for birdcage probes dedicated to small-animal imaging experiments.
abstract: We are presenting, in this paper, a simple, easily reproducible and easily tuneable design for home-built birdcage probes inducing a linearly polarised B1 field. A simple tuning method is proposed which preserves the induced field homogeneity that characterises in general the birdcage design. This is achieved by adding two extra rings (link rings) that allow one to connect two opposed points on the birdcage end rings via tuning capacitors. All the development stages, from design to practical realisation, are presented, step by step, in order to facilitate experimentalist work. Some images obtained with the birdcage probe are presented, accompanied by the B1 maps in transverse as well as longitudinal planes. Finally, a few suggestions are made for obtaining a circularly polarised magnetic field configuration.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, Institut Curie, Recherche. Laboratoires R. Latarjet, Centre Universitaire, Bât. 112, F-91405, Orsay Cedex, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lupu
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dimicoli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mispelter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008280:Magnetics; D051379:Mice; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014159:Transducers