title: A Switched-Mode Breast Coil for 7 T MRI Using Forced-Current Excitation.
abstract: In high-field magnetic resonance imaging, the radio frequency wavelength within the human body is comparable to anatomical dimensions, resulting in B1 inhomogeneity and nonuniform sensitivity patterns. Thus, this relatively short wavelength presents engineering challenges for RF coil design. In this study, a bilateral breast coil for (1)H imaging at 7 T was designed and constructed using forced-current excitation. By forcing equal current through the coil elements, we reduce the effects of coupling between the elements to simplify tuning and to ensure a uniform field across both breasts. To combine the benefits of the higher power efficiency of a unilateral coil with the bilateral coverage of a bilateral coil, a switching circuit was implemented to allow the coil to be reconfigured for imaging the left, right, or both breasts.
authors.forename: Jiaming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bosshard
authors.forename: Joseph V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Rispoli
authors.forename: Ivan E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Dimitrov
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheshkov
authors.forename: Mary Preston
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: McDougall
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malloy
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted