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medRxiv
MEDRXIV
medRxiv
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

10.1101/2024.08.30.24312851
preprint
1
Article
Coupled stack-up volume RF coils for low-field open MR imaging
Zhao Yunkun
Bhosale Aditya A
Zhang Xiaoliang
31 8 2024
2024.08.30.24312851https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use.
http://medrxiv.org/lookup/doi/10.1101/2024.08.30.24312851
nihpp-2024.08.30.24312851.pdf
Abstract

Background

Low-field open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, typically operating at magnetic field strengths below 1 Tesla, has greatly expanded the accessibility of MRI technology to meet a wide range of patient needs. However, the inherent challenges of low-field MRI, such as limited signal-to-noise ratios and limited availability of dedicated radiofrequency (RF) coils, have prompted the need for innovative coil designs that can improve imaging quality and diagnostic capabilities.

Purpose

In response to these challenges, we introduce the coupled stack-up volume coil, a novel RF coil design that addresses the shortcomings of conventional birdcage in the context of low-field open MRI.

Methods

The proposed coupled stack-up volume coil design utilizes a unique architecture that optimizes both transmit/receive efficiency and RF field homogeneity and offers the advantage of a simple design and construction, making it a practical and feasible solution for low-field MRI applications. This paper presents a comprehensive exploration of the theoretical framework, design considerations, and experimental validation of this innovative coil design.

Results

We demonstrate the superior performance of the coupled stack-up volume coil in achieving 47.7% higher transmit/receive efficiency and 68% more uniform magnetic field distribution compared to traditional birdcage coils in electromagnetic simulations. Bench tests results show that the B1 field efficiency of coupled stack-up volume coil is 57.3% higher compared with that of conventional birdcage coil.

Conclusions

The proposed coupled stack-up volume coil outperforms the conventional birdcage coil in terms of B1 efficiency, imaging coverage, and low-frequency operation capability. This design provides a robust and simple solution to low-field MR RF coil design.
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