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Published on: March 8, 2020
Modular design of receiver coil arrays
Nicola De Zanche1, Jurek A Massner, Christoph Leussler
1Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
A flexible modular system connects up to 16 magnetic resonance (MR) surface coils for receiver arrays. This system simplifies coil configuration and ensures radio-frequency safety for imaging experiments.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Electrical Engineering
- Physics
Background:
- Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging relies on receiver coil arrays for signal detection.
- Existing MR coil systems can be complex to configure and tune for different applications.
- The need for flexible and robust MR coil array systems is critical for advanced imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a modular and flexible system for constructing magnetic resonance (MR) receiver arrays.
- To simplify the connection and electronic integration of multiple MR surface coils.
- To ensure radio-frequency safety and electrical stability in MR coil arrays.
Main Methods:
- A modular connector box system was designed to integrate up to 16 individual MR surface coils.
- Preamplification, matching, and detuning circuitry were integrated onto circuit boards attached to each coil.
- A Pi matching network provided effective preamplifier decoupling, eliminating the need for manual electrical adjustments.
- Multiple radio-frequency traps were implemented to ensure RF safety and stable cabling.
Main Results:
- The modular system demonstrated flexibility in accommodating various coil sizes and shapes.
- Effective preamplifier decoupling eliminated the need for coil-specific tuning and decoupling adjustments.
- Radio-frequency safety and electrical stability were confirmed through design and testing.
- The system was successfully simulated, constructed, tested, and utilized in 1.5 T and 3 T imaging experiments.
Conclusions:
- The developed modular system offers a flexible and user-friendly solution for creating MR receiver arrays.
- This approach simplifies the setup and operation of MR coil arrays, reducing complexity.
- The system's design ensures reliable performance and safety for various MR imaging applications.
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