Development of double‐layer coupled coil for improving S/N in 7 T small‐animal MRI. Issue 5 (24th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Kyoung‐Nam; Seo, Jeung‐Hoon; Han, Sang‐Doc; Heo, Phil; Im, Geun Ho; Lee, Jung Hee
• Is Part Of: Scanning. Volume 37:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 361
• Page End: 371
• Publication Date: 2015-04-24
• Subjects: Scanning electron microscopy -- Periodicals; 502.825
• DOI: 10.1002/sca.21217
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0161-0457

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="sca21217-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>The purpose of this study was to develop a new double‐layer coupled (DLC) surface radiofrequency (RF) coil using a combination of single‐layer planar (SLP) and single‐layer circular (SLC) coils, for enhancement of magnetic flux (<italic>B</italic><sub>1</sub>) sensitivity and RF penetration in 7 T rat‐body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The proposed DLC surface coil was fabricated according to an electromagnetic (EM) simulation and validated based on the <italic>B</italic><sub>1</sub> distribution and bench measurements. The DLC coil performance was quantitatively evaluated based on the signal‐to‐noise ratio (S/N) and coil–response signal intensity curves in phantom and <italic>in vivo</italic> rat‐body images. In the computational EM calculation and 7 T <italic>in vivo</italic> experimental results, the DLC surface coil clearly showed an increased S/N and higher RF transmit (<italic>B</italic><sub>1</sub><sup>+</sup>) profiles, compared to those of the SLP and SLC coils. While all surface coils displayed a rapid decrease in the MR signal from the near‐coil region to the subject, the results reveal that the DLC coil concept may be used to provide sufficient RF penetration and high S/N and degrees of freedom for use in partial body imaging for 7 T ultra‐high‐field small‐animal MRI. SCANNING 37:361–371, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>