High-resolution imaging at 3T and 7T with multiring local volume coils

Area of Science:

• Medical imaging
• Biophysics
• Engineering

Background:

• Magnetic resonance (MR) microimaging is increasingly used for human tissue studies.
• Designing radio-frequency (rf) coils presents unique challenges for these experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the constraints on rf coil design for MR microimaging.
• To highlight the benefits of multiring coils for achieving a uniform B(1) field.

Main Methods:

• Investigated the design and performance of multiring rf coils.
• Compared multiring coils to surface coils for high-field imaging applications.
• Utilized MR microimaging on human brain and experimental animal abdominal aorta.

Main Results:

• Multiring coils provide a locally uniform B(1) field, crucial for high-quality imaging.
• These coils offer efficient rf power usage and simplicity, similar to surface coils.
• No sequence modifications, such as adiabatic pulses, are required.

Conclusions:

• Multiring coils are well-suited for high-field MR microimaging of restricted regions in humans and animals.
• They provide an effective solution for detailed microstructural and microfunctional studies.
• This coil design simplifies advanced MR imaging protocols.