A single-coil-based method for electromagnetic interference reduction in point-of-care low field MRI systems

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Physics

Background:

• Point-of-care (POC) MRI systems face challenges with electromagnetic interference (EMI) due to operation outside shielded rooms.
• Existing EMI reduction methods often increase system complexity and potential failure points.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, sensor-free method for detecting and mitigating EMI in POC MRI systems.
• To simplify the design and enhance the robustness of POC MRI systems.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes the "MR-silent" mode of an RF coil for EMI detection.
• Employs signal subtraction from the "MR-active" mode to remove EMI artifacts.
• Demonstrates a single-channel system using a passive 180° power splitter/combiner.

Main Results:

• Achieved up to ~97% reduction in the standard deviation of EMI.
• Demonstrated an average EMI reduction of ~90% in proof-of-concept in vivo studies.
• Successfully implemented EMI reduction with a single receive channel.

Conclusions:

• The proposed MR-silent mode method effectively reduces EMI in POC MRI without external sensors.
• This technique offers a simpler and more reliable solution for challenging environments.
• The findings pave the way for more accessible and robust POC MRI applications.