An In-Bore Receiver for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biophysics
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems increasingly use array detectors, leading to challenges with analog signal transmission via coaxial cables regarding handling, safety, and interference.
• Growing channel counts from complementary radiofrequency transmission or NMR-based magnetic field sensing further complicate analog connections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a 16-channel in-bore receiver for MRI that digitizes signals within the magnet.
• To address the limitations of traditional analog signal transmission in high-channel-count MRI systems.
• To achieve high dynamic range, linearity, and phase stability in a digitized in-bore system.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a 16-channel receiver for in-bore signal digitization and first-level processing.
• Utilizing optical fiber for signal transmission from the magnet bore.
• System design, construction, and performance evaluation, including comparisons with external digitizers.

Main Results:

• The developed 16-channel in-bore receiver is fully MRI compatible.
• The system demonstrates practically equal performance and signal quality compared to state-of-the-art external radiofrequency (RF) digitizers.
• Successful demonstration of head imaging and magnetic field recording using the in-bore system.

Conclusions:

• Transitioning to in-bore digitization and optical transmission is a viable solution for managing increasing channel counts in MRI.
• The implemented system effectively overcomes challenges related to analog signal transmission, interference, and system complexity.
• This technology offers a pathway to improved MRI data acquisition quality and system flexibility.