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Solomakha GA, Bosch D, Glang F, Scheffler K, Avdievich NI. Evaluation of coaxial dipole antennas as transceiver elements of human head array for ultra-high field MRI at 9.4T. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:1268-1280. [PMID: 38009927 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this work is to evaluate a new eight-channel transceiver (TxRx) coaxial dipole array for imaging of the human head at 9.4T developed to improve specific absorption rate (SAR) performance, and provide for a more compact and robust alternative to the state-of-the art dipole arrays. METHODS First, the geometry of a single coaxial element was optimized to minimize peak SAR and sensitivity to the load variation. Next, a multi-tissue voxel model was used to numerically simulate a TxRx array coil that consisted of eight coaxial dipoles with the optimal configuration. Finally, we compared the developed array to other human head dipole arrays. Results of numerical simulations were verified on a bench and in the scanner including in vivo measurements on a healthy volunteer. RESULTS The developed eight-element coaxial dipole TxRx array coil showed up to 1.1times higher SAR-efficiency than a similar in geometry folded-end and fractionated dipole array while maintaining whole brain coverage and low sensitivity of the resonance frequency to variation in the head size. CONCLUSION As a proof of concept, we developed and constructed a prototype of a 9.4T (400 MHz) human head array consisting of eight TxRx coaxial dipoles. The developed array improved SAR-efficiency and provided for a more compact and robust alternative to the folded-end dipole design. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of using coaxial dipoles for human head MRI at ultra-high field.
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Affiliation(s)
- G A Solomakha
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - D Bosch
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Department for Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - F Glang
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - K Scheffler
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Department for Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - N I Avdievich
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
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2
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Rios NL, Gilbert KM, Papp D, Cereza G, Foias A, Rangaprakash D, May MW, Guerin B, Wald LL, Keil B, Stockmann JP, Barry RL, Cohen-Adad J. An 8-channel Tx dipole and 20-channel Rx loop coil array for MRI of the cervical spinal cord at 7 Tesla. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2023; 36:e5002. [PMID: 37439129 PMCID: PMC10733907 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The quality of cervical spinal cord images can be improved by the use of tailored radiofrequency (RF) coil solutions for ultrahigh field imaging; however, very few commercial and research 7-T RF coils currently exist for the spinal cord, and in particular, those with parallel transmission (pTx) capabilities. This work presents the design, testing, and validation of a pTx/Rx coil for the human neck and cervical/upper thoracic spinal cord. The pTx portion is composed of eight dipoles to ensure high homogeneity over this large region of the spinal cord. The Rx portion is made up of twenty semiadaptable overlapping loops to produce high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) across the patient population. The coil housing is designed to facilitate patient positioning and comfort, while also being tight fitting to ensure high sensitivity. We demonstrate RF shimming capabilities to optimize B1 + uniformity, power efficiency, and/or specific absorption rate efficiency. B1 + homogeneity, SNR, and g-factor were evaluated in adult volunteers and demonstrated excellent performance from the occipital lobe down to the T4-T5 level. We compared the proposed coil with two state-of-the-art head and head/neck coils, confirming its superiority in the cervical and upper thoracic regions of the spinal cord. This coil solution therefore provides a convincing platform for producing the high image quality necessary for clinical and research scanning of the upper spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nibardo Lopez Rios
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Kyle M. Gilbert
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel Papp
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Gaspard Cereza
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexandru Foias
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - D. Rangaprakash
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Markus W. May
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Bastien Guerin
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lawrence L. Wald
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Health Sciences & Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Boris Keil
- Institute of Medical Physics and Radiation Protection, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jason P. Stockmann
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert L. Barry
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Health Sciences & Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Mila – Quebec AI Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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3
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Rios NL, Gilbert KM, Papp D, Cereza G, Foias A, Rangaprakash D, May MW, Guerin B, Wald LL, Keil B, Stockmann JP, Barry RL, Cohen-Adad J. 8-channel Tx dipole and 20-channel Rx loop coil array for MRI of the cervical spinal cord at 7 Tesla. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.08.527664. [PMID: 36798276 PMCID: PMC9934596 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.08.527664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The quality of cervical spinal cord images can be improved by the use of tailored radiofrequency coil solutions for ultra-high field imaging; however, very few commercial and research 7 Tesla radiofrequency coils currently exist for the spinal cord, and in particular those with parallel transmit capabilities. This work presents the design, testing and validation of a pTx/Rx coil for the human neck and cervical/upper-thoracic spinal cord. The pTx portion is composed of 8 dipoles to ensure high homogeneity over this large region of the spinal cord. The Rx portion is made of 20 semi-adaptable overlapping loops to produce high Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) across the patient population. The coil housing is designed to facilitate patient positioning and comfort, while being tight fitting to ensure high sensitivity. We demonstrate RF shimming capabilities to optimize B 1 + uniformity, power efficiency and/or specific absorption rate (SAR) efficiency. B 1 + homogeneity, SNR and g-factor was evaluated in adult volunteers and demonstrated excellent performance from the occipital lobe down to the T4-T5 level. We compared the proposed coil with two state-of-the-art head and head/neck coils, confirming its superiority in the cervical and upper-thoracic regions of the spinal cord. This coil solution therefore provides a convincing platform for producing the high image quality necessary for clinical and research scanning of the upper spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nibardo Lopez Rios
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kyle M. Gilbert
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel Papp
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gaspard Cereza
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexandru Foias
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - D. Rangaprakash
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Markus W. May
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Bastien Guerin
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lawrence L. Wald
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Health Sciences & Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Boris Keil
- Institute of Medical Physics and Radiation Protection, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jason P. Stockmann
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert L. Barry
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Health Sciences & Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Mila – Quebec AI Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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4
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Williams SN, McElhinney P, Gunamony S. Ultra-high field MRI: parallel-transmit arrays and RF pulse design. Phys Med Biol 2023; 68. [PMID: 36410046 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aca4b7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This paper reviews the field of multiple or parallel radiofrequency (RF) transmission for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Currently the use of ultra-high field (UHF) MRI at 7 tesla and above is gaining popularity, yet faces challenges with non-uniformity of the RF field and higher RF power deposition. Since its introduction in the early 2000s, parallel transmission (pTx) has been recognized as a powerful tool for accelerating spatially selective RF pulses and combating the challenges associated with RF inhomogeneity at UHF. We provide a survey of the types of dedicated RF coils used commonly for pTx and the important modeling of the coil behavior by electromagnetic (EM) field simulations. We also discuss the additional safety considerations involved with pTx such as the specific absorption rate (SAR) and how to manage them. We then describe the application of pTx with RF pulse design, including a practical guide to popular methods. Finally, we conclude with a description of the current and future prospects for pTx, particularly its potential for routine clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney N Williams
- Imaging Centre of Excellence, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Paul McElhinney
- Imaging Centre of Excellence, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Shajan Gunamony
- Imaging Centre of Excellence, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.,MR CoilTech Limited, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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5
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Elabyad IA, Terekhov M, Lohr D, Bille M, Hock M, Schreiber LM. A novel antisymmetric 16-element transceiver dipole antenna array for parallel transmit cardiac MRI in pigs at 7 T. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 35:e4726. [PMID: 35277907 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
To improve parallel transmit (pTx) and receive performance for cardiac MRI (cMRI) in pigs at 7 T, a dedicated transmit/receive (Tx/Rx), 16-element antisymmetric dipole antenna array, which combines L-shaped and straight dipoles, was designed, implemented, and evaluated in both cadavers and animals in vivo. Electromagnetic-field simulations were performed with the new 16-element dipole antenna array loaded with a pig thorax-shaped phantom and compared with an eight-element array of straight dipoles. The new dipole array was interfaced to a 7 T scanner in pTx mode (8Tx/16Rx). Imaging performance of the novel array was validated through MRI measurements in a pig phantom, an 85 kg pig cadaver, and two pigs in vivo (74 and 81 kg). Due to the improved decoupling between interleaved L-shaped and straight dipole elements, the 16-element dipole array fits within the same outer dimensions as an eight-element array of straight dipoles. This provides improvement of both transmit and receive characteristics and additional degrees of freedom for B1+ shimming. The antisymmetric dipole array demonstrated efficient suppression of destructive interferences in the B1+ field, with up to 25% improvement in the B1+ homogeneity achieved using static pTx-RFPA B1+ shimming in comparison with the hardware-adjusted state, which was optimized for single transmit. High-resolution (0.5 × 0.5 × 4 mm3 ) anatomical images of the heart after cardiac arrest proved good transmit and receive characteristics of the novel array design. Parallel imaging with an acceleration factor up to R = 6 was possible while maintaining a mean g factor of 1.55 within the pig heart. CINE images acquired in vivo in two pigs demonstrated SNR and parallel imaging capabilities similar to those of a reference 8Tx/16Rx dedicated loop array for cMRI in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim A Elabyad
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Maxim Terekhov
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - David Lohr
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Maya Bille
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Hock
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Laura M Schreiber
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
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6
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Schoen N, Seifert F, Petzold J, Metzger GJ, Speck O, Ittermann B, Schmitter S. The Impact of Respiratory Motion on Electromagnetic Fields and Specific Absorption Rate in Cardiac Imaging at 7T. Magn Reson Med 2022; 88:2645-2661. [PMID: 35906923 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To present electromagnetic simulation setups for detailed analyses of respiration's impact on B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ and E-fields, local specific absorption rate (SAR) and associated safety-limits for 7T cardiac imaging. METHODS Finite-difference time-domain electromagnetic field simulations were performed at five respiratory states using a breathing body model and a 16-element 7T body transceiver RF-coil array. B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ and SAR are analyzed for fixed and moving coil configurations. SAR variations are investigated using phase/amplitude shimming considering (i) a local SAR-controlled mode (here SAR calculations consider RF amplitudes and phases) and (ii) a channel-wise power-controlled mode (SAR boundary calculation is independent of the channels' phases, only dependent on the channels' maximum amplitude). RESULTS Respiration-induced variations of both B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ amplitude and phase are observed. The flip angle homogeneity depends on the respiratory state used for B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ shimming; best results were achieved for shimming on inhale and exhale simultaneously ( | Δ C V | < 35 % $$ \mid \Delta CV\mid <35\% $$ ). The results reflect that respiration impacts position and amplitude of the local SAR maximum. With the local-SAR-control mode, a safety factor of up to 1.4 is needed to accommodate for respiratory variations while the power control mode appears respiration-robust when the coil moves with respiration (SAR peak decrease: 9% exhale→inhale). Instead, a spatially fixed coil setup yields higher SAR variations with respiration. CONCLUSION Respiratory motion does not only affect the B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ distribution and hence the image contrast, but also location and magnitude of the peak spatial SAR. Therefore, respiration effects may need to be included in safety analyses of RF coils applied to the human thorax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Schoen
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Seifert
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Petzold
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Gregory J Metzger
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Oliver Speck
- Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Ittermann
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schmitter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany.,Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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7
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Tenbergen CJA, Metzger GJ, Scheenen TWJ. Ultra-high-field MR in Prostate cancer: Feasibility and Potential. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS, BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2022; 35:631-644. [PMID: 35579785 PMCID: PMC9113077 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-022-01013-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Multiparametric MRI of the prostate at clinical magnetic field strengths (1.5/3 Tesla) has emerged as a reliable noninvasive imaging modality for identifying clinically significant cancer, enabling selective sampling of high-risk regions with MRI-targeted biopsies, and enabling minimally invasive focal treatment options. With increased sensitivity and spectral resolution, ultra-high-field (UHF) MRI (≥ 7 Tesla) holds the promise of imaging and spectroscopy of the prostate with unprecedented detail. However, exploiting the advantages of ultra-high magnetic field is challenging due to inhomogeneity of the radiofrequency field and high local specific absorption rates, raising local heating in the body as a safety concern. In this work, we review various coil designs and acquisition strategies to overcome these challenges and demonstrate the potential of UHF MRI in anatomical, functional and metabolic imaging of the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes. When difficulties with power deposition of many refocusing pulses are overcome and the full potential of metabolic spectroscopic imaging is used, UHF MR(S)I may aid in a better understanding of the development and progression of local prostate cancer. Together with large field-of-view and low-flip-angle anatomical 3D imaging, 7 T MRI can be used in its full strength to characterize different tumor stages and help explain the onset and spatial distribution of metastatic spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlijn J A Tenbergen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Gregory J Metzger
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Tom W J Scheenen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Essen, Germany
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8
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Avdievich NI, Solomakha G, Ruhm L, Henning A, Scheffler K. 9.4 T double-tuned 13 C/ 1 H human head array using a combination of surface loops and dipole antennas. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2021; 34:e4577. [PMID: 34169590 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
MRI at ultra-high field (UHF, ≥7 T) provides a natural strategy for improving the quality of X-nucleus magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging due to the intrinsic benefit of increased signal-to-noise ratio. Considering that RF coils require both local transmission and reception at UHF, the designs of double-tuned coils, which often consist of several layers of transmit and receive resonant elements, become quite complex. A few years ago, a new type of RF coil, ie a dipole antenna, was developed and used for human body and head imaging at UHF. Due to the mechanical and electrical simplicity of dipole antennas, combining an X-nucleus surface loop array with 1 H dipoles can substantially simplify the design of a double-tuned UHF human head array coil. Recently, we developed a novel bent folded-end dipole transceiver array for human head imaging at 9.4 T. The new eight-element dipole array demonstrated full brain coverage, and transmit efficiency comparable to that of the substantially more complex 16-element surface loop array. In this work, we developed, constructed and evaluated a double-tuned 13 C/1 H human head 9.4 T array consisting of eight 13 C transceiver surface loops and eight 1 H transceiver bent folded-end dipole antennas all placed in a single layer. We showed that interaction between loops and dipoles can be minimized by placing four 1 H traps into each 13 C loop. The presented double-tuned RF array coil substantially simplifies the design as compared with the common double-tuned surface loop arrays. At the same time, the coil demonstrated an improved 1 H longitudinal coverage and good transmit efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai I Avdievich
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Georgiy Solomakha
- Department of Physics and Engineering, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Loreen Ruhm
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anke Henning
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Klaus Scheffler
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Department for Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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9
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van Leeuwen CC, Steensma BR, Klomp DWJ, van den Berg CAT, Raaijmakers AJE. The Coax Dipole: A fully flexible coaxial cable dipole antenna with flattened current distribution for body imaging at 7 Tesla. Magn Reson Med 2021; 87:528-540. [PMID: 34411327 PMCID: PMC9292881 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Purpose The coax dipole antenna, a flexible antenna for body imaging at 7T is presented. Similar to the high impedance coil, this coaxial cable antenna is fed on the central conductor and through gaps in the shield, the current passes to the outside of the antenna to generate B1 field. This could achieve more favorable current distributions and better adaptation to the body curvature. Methods Finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations are performed to optimize the positions of the gaps in the shield for a flat current profile. Lumped inductors are added to each end to reduce losses. The performance of a single antenna is compared to a fractionated dipole using B1 maps and MR thermometry. Finally, an array of eight coax dipoles is evaluated in simulations and used for in‐vivo scanning. Results An optimal configuration is found with gaps located at 10 cm from the center and inductor values of 28 nH. In comparison to the fractionated dipole antenna, in single antenna phantom measurements the coax dipole achieves similar B1 amplitude with 18% lower peak temperature. In simulations, the eight‐channel array of coax dipoles improved B1 homogeneity by 18%, along with small improvements in transmit efficiency and specific absorption rate (SAR). MRI measurements on three volunteers show more consistent performance for the coax dipoles. Conclusion The coax dipole is a novel antenna design with a flattened current distribution resulting in beneficial properties. Also, the flexible design of the coax dipoles allows better adaptation to the body curvature and can potentially be used for a wide range of imaging targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carel C van Leeuwen
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bart R Steensma
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis W J Klomp
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Alexander J E Raaijmakers
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Biomedical Engineering Department, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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10
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Fiedler TM, Orzada S, Flöser M, Rietsch SHG, Quick HH, Ladd ME, Bitz AK. Performance analysis of integrated RF microstrip transmit antenna arrays with high channel count for body imaging at 7 T. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2021; 34:e4515. [PMID: 33942938 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the current study was to investigate the performance of integrated RF transmit arrays with high channel count consisting of meander microstrip antennas for body imaging at 7 T and to optimize the position and number of transmit elements. RF simulations using multiring antenna arrays placed behind the bore liner were performed for realistic exposure conditions for body imaging. Simulations were performed for arrays with as few as eight elements and for arrays with high channel counts of up to 48 elements. The B1+ field was evaluated regarding the degrees of freedom for RF shimming in the abdomen. Worst-case specific absorption rate (SARwc ), SAR overestimation in the matrix compression, the number of virtual observation points (VOPs) and SAR efficiency were evaluated. Constrained RF shimming was performed in differently oriented regions of interest in the body, and the deviation from a target B1+ field was evaluated. Results show that integrated multiring arrays are able to generate homogeneous B1+ field distributions for large FOVs, especially for coronal/sagittal slices, and thus enable body imaging at 7 T with a clinical workflow; however, a low duty cycle or a high SAR is required to achieve homogeneous B1+ distributions and to exploit the full potential. In conclusion, integrated arrays allow for high element counts that have high degrees of freedom for the pulse optimization but also produce high SARwc , which reduces the SAR accuracy in the VOP compression for low-SAR protocols, leading to a potential reduction in array performance. Smaller SAR overestimations can increase SAR accuracy, but lead to a high number of VOPs, which increases the computational cost for VOP evaluation and makes online SAR monitoring or pulse optimization challenging. Arrays with interleaved rings showed the best results in the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M Fiedler
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Orzada
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Martina Flöser
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan H G Rietsch
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas K Bitz
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Electromagnetic Theory and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, FH Aachen - University of Applied Sciences, Aachen, Germany
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11
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Gilbert KM, Klassen LM, Mashkovtsev A, Zeman P, Menon RS, Gati JS. Radiofrequency coil for routine ultra-high-field imaging with an unobstructed visual field. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2021; 34:e4457. [PMID: 33305466 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Many neuroscience applications have adopted functional MRI as a tool to investigate the healthy and diseased brain during the completion of a task. While ultra-high-field MRI has allowed for improved contrast and signal-to-noise ratios during functional MRI studies, it remains a challenge to create local radiofrequency coils that can accommodate an unobstructed visual field and be suitable for routine use, while at the same time not compromise performance. Performance (both during transmission and reception) can be improved by using close-fitting coils; however, maintaining sensitivity over the whole brain often requires the introduction of coil elements proximal to the eyes, thereby partially occluding the subject's visual field. This study presents a 7 T head coil, with eight transmit dipoles and 32 receive loops, that is designed to remove visual obstructions from the subject's line of sight, allowing for an unencumbered view of visual stimuli, the reduction of anxiety induced from small enclosures, and the potential for eye-tracking measurements. The coil provides a practical solution for routine imaging, including a split design (anterior and posterior halves) that facilitates subject positioning, including those with impaired mobility, and the placement of devices required for patient comfort and motion reduction. The transmit and receive coils displayed no degradation of performance due to adaptions to the design topology (both mechanical and electrical) required to create an unobstructed visual field. All computer-aided design files, electromagnetic simulation models, transmit field maps and local specific absorption rate matrices are provided to promote reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle M Gilbert
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - L Martyn Klassen
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexander Mashkovtsev
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Zeman
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ravi S Menon
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph S Gati
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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12
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Avdievich NI, Solomakha G, Ruhm L, Henning A, Scheffler K. Unshielded bent folded-end dipole 9.4 T human head transceiver array decoupled using modified passive dipoles. Magn Reson Med 2021; 86:581-597. [PMID: 33629436 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop an unshielded dipole transceiver array for human head imaging at 9.4 Tesla and to improve decoupling of adjacent dipole elements, a novel array design with modified passive dipole antennas was developed, evaluated, and tested. METHODS The new array consisted of 8 bent folded-end dipole elements placed in a single row and surrounding the head. Adjacent elements of RF transceiver arrays are usually decoupled by introducing circuits electrically connected to elements. These methods are difficult to use for dipole arrays because of the distant location of the adjacent antennas. A recently developed decoupling technique using passive dipoles is simple and does not require any electrical connection. However, common parallel passive dipoles can produce destructive interference with the RF field of the array itself. To minimize this interference, we placed the passive dipoles perpendicularly to the active dipoles and positioned them at the ends of the array. We also evaluated the effect of different passive dipoles on the array transmit performance. Finally, we optimized the array transmit performance by varying the length of the dipole folded portion. RESULTS By rotating the passive dipoles 90º and moving them toward the ends of the array, we minimized the destructive interference to an acceptable level without compromising decoupling and the transmit efficiency. CONCLUSION While keeping the benefits of the passive dipole decoupling method, the new modified dipoles produce substantially less destructive interference with the RF field of the array than the common design. The constructed transceiver array demonstrated good decoupling and whole-brain coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai I Avdievich
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Georgiy Solomakha
- Department of Physics and Engineering, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Loreen Ruhm
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anke Henning
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.,Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Klaus Scheffler
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.,Department for Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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13
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Solomakha G, Svejda JT, van Leeuwen C, Rennings A, Raaijmakers AJ, Glybovski S, Erni D. A self-matched leaky-wave antenna for ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging with low specific absorption rate. Nat Commun 2021; 12:455. [PMID: 33469005 PMCID: PMC7815766 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20708-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The technology of magnetic resonance imaging is developing towards higher magnetic fields to improve resolution and contrast. However, whole-body imaging at 7 T or even higher flux densities remains challenging due to wave interference, tissue inhomogeneities, and high RF power deposition. Nowadays, proper RF excitation of a human body in prostate and cardiac MRI is only possible to achieve by using phased arrays of antennas attached to the body (so-called surface coils). Due to safety concerns, the design of such coils aims at minimization of the local specific absorption rate (SAR), keeping the highest possible RF signal in the region of interest. Most previously demonstrated approaches were based on resonant structures such as e.g. dipoles, capacitively-loaded loops, TEM-line sections. In this study, we show that there is a better compromise between the transmit signal [Formula: see text] and the local SAR using non-resonant surface coils generating a low electric field in the proximity of their conductors. With this aim, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a leaky-wave antenna implemented as a periodically-slotted microstrip transmission line. Due to its non-resonant radiation, it induces only slightly over half the peak local SAR compared to a state-of-the-art dipole antenna but has the same transmit efficiency in prostate imaging at 7 T. Unlike other antennas for MRI, the leaky-wave antenna does not require to be tuned and matched when placed on a body, which makes it easy-to-use in prostate imaging at 7 T MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Solomakha
- Department of Physics and Engineering, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - J T Svejda
- General and Theoretical Electrical Engineering (ATE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Duisburg-Essen, and CENIDE - Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - C van Leeuwen
- Imaging Division, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A Rennings
- General and Theoretical Electrical Engineering (ATE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Duisburg-Essen, and CENIDE - Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - A J Raaijmakers
- Imaging Division, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - S Glybovski
- Department of Physics and Engineering, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - D Erni
- General and Theoretical Electrical Engineering (ATE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Duisburg-Essen, and CENIDE - Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
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14
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Lakshmanan K, Cloos M, Brown R, Lattanzi R, Sodickson DK, Wiggins GC. The "Loopole" Antenna: A Hybrid Coil Combining Loop and Electric Dipole Properties for Ultra-High-Field MRI. CONCEPTS IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE. PART B, MAGNETIC RESONANCE ENGINEERING 2020; 2020:8886543. [PMID: 34140840 PMCID: PMC8207246 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8886543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To revisit the "loopole," an unusual coil topology whose unbalanced current distribution captures both loop and electric dipole properties, which can be advantageous in ultra-high-field MRI. METHODS Loopole coils were built by deliberately breaking the capacitor symmetry of traditional loop coils. The corresponding current distribution, transmit efficiency, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were evaluated in simulation and experiments in comparison to those of loops and electric dipoles at 7 T (297 MHz). RESULTS The loopole coil exhibited a hybrid current pattern, comprising features of both loops and electric dipole current patterns. Depending on the orientation relative to B0, the loopole demonstrated significant performance boost in either the transmit efficiency or SNR at the center of a dielectric sample when compared to a traditional loop. Modest improvements were observed when compared to an electric dipole. CONCLUSION The loopole can achieve high performance by supporting both divergence-free and curl-free current patterns, which are both significant contributors to the ultimate intrinsic performance at ultra-high field. While electric dipoles exhibit similar hybrid properties, loopoles maintain the engineering advantages of loops, such as geometric decoupling and reduced resonance frequency dependence on sample loading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Lakshmanan
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Martijn Cloos
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ryan Brown
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Riccardo Lattanzi
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel K. Sodickson
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Tech4Health, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Graham C. Wiggins
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Zivkovic I, de Castro CA, Webb A. Design and characterization of an eight-element passively fed meander-dipole array with improved specific absorption rate efficiency for 7 T body imaging. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2019; 32:e4106. [PMID: 31131944 PMCID: PMC6771742 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the transmit efficiency and specific absorption rate (SAR) efficiency of a new eight-element passively fed meander-dipole antenna array designed for body MRI at 7 T, and to compare these values with a conventional directly fed meander-dipole array. METHODS The main radiating element of the passively fed dipole is printed on one side of a dielectric substrate and is capacitively coupled to a shorter feeding element (connected to the coaxial cable) printed on the opposite side of the substrate. The transmit (B1+ ) field and SAR were simulated on a phantom and on a human voxel model for both a passively fed and a directly fed single element. Two eight-channel arrays containing, respectively, directly and passively fed meander dipoles were then simulated, and experimental B1+ maps and T2 -weighted spin echo images of the prostate were obtained in vivo for four healthy volunteers. RESULTS In simulations, the mean transmit efficiency (B1+ per square root input power) value in the prostate was ~ 12.5% lower, and the maximum 10 g average SAR was 44% lower for the array containing passively fed dipoles, resulting in ~ 15% higher SAR efficiency for the passively fed array. In vivo RF-shimmed turbo spin echo images were acquired from both arrays, and showed image SNRs within 5% of one another. CONCLUSION A passive-feeding network for meander-dipole antennas has been shown to be a simple method to increase the SAR efficiency of a multi-element array used for body imaging at high fields. We hypothesize that the main reason for the increase in SAR efficiency is the storage of the strong conservative electric field in the dielectric between the feeding element and the radiating element of the dipole. The passive-feeding approach can be generalized to other dipole geometries and configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Zivkovic
- C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRI, Department of RadiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | | | - Andrew Webb
- C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRI, Department of RadiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
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