A detunable wireless resonator insert for high-resolution TMJ MRI at 1.5 T

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is crucial for diagnosing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
• Standard MRI head coils are suboptimal for specialized TMJ imaging.
• Dedicated TMJ MRI coils are often unavailable or costly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a simple, low-cost wireless resonator insert for enhanced TMJ MRI at 1.5 Tesla.
• To improve image quality and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for TMJ scans.
• To provide an accessible solution for better TMJ diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• A wireless resonator insert was designed and fabricated for 1.5 Tesla MRI.
• Phantom studies were conducted to assess performance.
• In vivo TMJ MRI scans were performed using the insert and a standard head array.

Main Results:

• The wireless resonator insert demonstrated a significant improvement in SNR.
• Noticeably better imaging quality was observed with the insert compared to the head array alone.
• The insert proved effective in both phantom and in vivo TMJ imaging.

Conclusions:

• The developed wireless resonator insert is a cost-effective and reproducible method to enhance TMJ MRI quality.
• This technology offers a practical solution for improving diagnostic accuracy in TMJ disorders.
• Further implementation could lead to more accessible and detailed TMJ assessments.