A practical method for 2D multiple-animal MRI.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate practical methods for achieving routine simultaneous 2D MRI of multiple animals in large-bore experimental scanners.


METHODS
Three four-element array geometries were compared against a standard single-coil configuration in terms of image quality, ease of use, and data efficiency using a four-channel, 4.7 T small animal imaging system.


RESULTS
A linear arrangement of volume resonators permits unobstructed animal preparation and use of an imaging protocol that is almost identical to the single-coil configuration without requiring any image correction or other additional postprocessing. Resulting in vivo images were visually indistinguishable from those acquired through the single-coil configuration.


CONCLUSIONS
The efficiency of animal studies employing 2D MRI techniques can be substantially improved by using a linear array of commercially available resonators.
Ramirez
Marc S
MS
Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Bankson
James A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D004867:Equipment Design; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D003287:Contrast Media