An integrated target field framework for point-of-care halbach array low-field MRI system design

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biophysics
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Low-cost, low-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems are crucial for point-of-care diagnostics.
• Diverse applications necessitate tailored system designs regarding field-of-view, resolution, and magnetic field strength.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an iterative framework for designing cylindrical Halbach-based magnets with integrated gradient and RF coils.
• To efficiently meet user-specified imaging requirements for low-field MRI systems.

Main Methods:

• Utilized target field methods for magnet, gradient, and RF coil design for efficient integration.
• Derived a novel mathematical model for magnet design, previously unused in this context.
• Developed a framework capable of designing a complete low-field MRI system rapidly on standard hardware.

Main Results:

• Successfully designed two distinct point-of-care MRI systems: one for neuroimaging and another for extremity imaging.
• Input parameters were sourced from existing literature, and the resulting system designs were analyzed in detail.

Conclusions:

• The framework enables optimization of hardware components (magnet, gradient, RF coils) based on desired imaging parameters.
• It accounts for interdependencies between components, providing insights into design choices for low-field MRI systems.