A geometrically adjustable 16-channel transmit/receive transmission line array for improved RF efficiency and parallel imaging performance at 7 Tesla.
A novel geometrically adjustable transceiver array system is presented. A key feature of the geometrically adjustable array was the introduction of decoupling capacitors that allow for automatic change in capacitance dependent on neighboring resonant element distance. The 16-element head array version of such an adjustable coil based on transmission line technology was compared to fixed geometry transmission line arrays (TLAs) of various sizes at 7T. The focus of this comparison was on parallel imaging performance, RF transmit efficiency, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Significant gains in parallel imaging performance and SNR were observed for the new coil and attributed to its adjustability and to the design of the individual elements with a three-sided ground plane.
Adriany
Gregor
G
Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA 55455, USA. gregor@cmrr.umn.edu
Van de Moortele
Pierre-Francois
PF
Ritter
Johannes
J
Moeller
Steen
S
Auerbach
Edward J
EJ
Akgün
Can
C
Snyder
Carl J
CJ
Vaughan
Thomas
T
Uğurbil
Kâmil
K
D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011846:Radio Waves; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted