Using a modified 3D-printer for mapping the magnetic field of RF coils designed for fetal and neonatal imaging.
An experimental setup for characterizing the magnetic field of MRI RF coils was proposed and tested. The setup consisted of a specially configured 3D-printer, a network analyzer and a mid-performance desktop PC. The setup was tested on a single loop RF coil, part of a phased array for fetal imaging. Then, the setup was used for determining the magnetic field characteristics of a high-pass birdcage coil used for neonatal MR imaging with a vertical static field. The scattering parameter S21, converted into power ratio, was used for mapping the B1 magnetic field. The experimental measurements from the loop coil were close to the theoretical results (R=0.924). A high degree of homogeneity was measured for the neonatal birdcage RF coil. The development of MR RF coils is time consuming and resource intensive. The proposed experimental setup provides an alternative method for magnetic field characterization of RF coils used in MRI.
Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Papassiopoulou 2-4, GR 35131 Lamia, Greece. Electronic address: vavoulas@dib.uth.gr.
Alexander
A
Vavoulas
Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Papassiopoulou 2-4, GR 35131 Lamia, Greece. Electronic address: nvaio@dib.uth.gr.
Nicholas
N
Vaiopoulos
Cardiac MR Group, Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Getingevagen 4, Lund SE 22185, Sweden; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Getingevagen 4, Lund SE 22185, Sweden. Electronic address: erik.hedstrom@med.lu.se.
Erik
E
Hedström
Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Papassiopoulou 2-4, GR 35131 Lamia, Greece; Cardiac MR Group, Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Getingevagen 4, Lund SE 22185, Sweden. Electronic address: cxanthis@gmail.com.
Christos G
CG
Xanthis
Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Papassiopoulou 2-4, GR 35131 Lamia, Greece. Electronic address: sandalidis@dib.uth.gr.
Harilaos G
HG
Sandalidis
Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Papassiopoulou 2-4, GR 35131 Lamia, Greece; Laboratory of Computing and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 323, Thessaloniki GR 54124, Greece. Electronic address: aletras@auth.gr.
Anthony H
AH
Aletras
D004867:Equipment Design; D005333:Fetus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D011846:Radio Waves
Helmholtz condition; Helmholtz pair; MRI; RF coil design; Volume coil