A 4-channel coil array interconnection by analog direct modulation optical link for 1.5-T MRI.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Optical Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Coaxial cables used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems are susceptible to electromagnetic interference, potentially degrading image quality.
• High-field MRI systems with large coil arrays require robust interconnection solutions to maintain signal integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a 4-channel analog direct modulation optical link for interconnecting MRI receive coil arrays at 1.5-T.
• To compare the performance of the proposed direct modulated optical link against external modulated links and traditional coaxial cable connections.

Main Methods:

• A 4-channel analog direct modulation optical link was designed and implemented for MRI coil array interconnection.
• Link performance metrics including power gain, frequency response, and dynamic range were analyzed and measured.
• Phantom and in vivo head images were acquired using both the optical link and coaxial cables for direct comparison.

Main Results:

• The proposed optical link demonstrated comparable or superior performance in terms of power gain, frequency response, and dynamic range.
• Image quality comparison showed a 6%-8% improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with the optical link.
• Elimination of electrical interference between cables was identified as the key factor for SNR improvement.

Conclusions:

• Analog direct modulation optical links are a viable and advantageous alternative to coaxial cables for MRI receive coil interconnections, particularly in high-field systems.
• The proposed optical link technology enhances MRI image quality by mitigating electromagnetic interference, leading to improved SNR.
• This advancement has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy in MRI applications.