A 16-channel loop array for in vivo macaque whole-brain imaging at 3 T

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Non-human primates (NHPs) are crucial models in neuroscience research, utilized in various studies including neuroimaging.
• Existing radiofrequency (RF) coil arrays for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in NHPs often lack accommodation for multimodal research devices.
• There is a need for improved RF coil technology to support advanced, high-resolution neuroimaging in NHPs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and construct a novel 16-channel RF coil array for high-resolution macaque brain imaging at 3 Tesla (3T).
• To evaluate the performance of the new coil, comparing it against a commonly used human pediatric coil for NHP MRI.
• To assess the coil's capability for multimodal device integration and its suitability for various neuroimaging techniques.

Main Methods:

• A custom 16-channel helmet-shaped RF coil array was designed for whole-brain coverage in macaques.
• The coil was engineered with openings to allow integration of multimodal devices for direct access to visual cortical regions.
• Coil performance was assessed in vivo using an anesthetized macaque, comparing signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), noise correlations, and g-factor maps against a standard human pediatric coil.

Main Results:

• The newly developed NHP coil demonstrated superior performance, including better decoupling and higher SNRs in cortical regions compared to the human pediatric coil.
• The coil facilitated improved data acquisition acceleration.
• High-resolution anatomical imaging (T2-SPACE), diffusion tensor imaging, and functional imaging (GRE-EPI) were successfully conducted, visualizing detailed brain structures and yielding high time-course SNR (tSNR).

Conclusions:

• The 16-channel NHP RF coil array is well-suited for high-resolution macaque brain imaging at 3T.
• The coil's design supports multimodal device integration, advancing combined neuroimaging and neuro-engineering studies.
• This technology offers enhanced capabilities for neuroscience research, improving upon existing methods for NHP brain MRI.