Stretching the Limits of MRI-Stretchable and Modular Coil Array Using Conductive Thread Technology.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging Technology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coils often lack adaptability to individual patient anatomy and body part curvature.
• Custom coil fabrication is time-consuming and expensive, limiting personalized imaging solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a modular and stretchable coil array design for MRI using conductive threads and embroidery techniques.
• To enhance customizability and patient comfort in MRI by creating adaptable coil arrays.

Main Methods:

• Eight rectangular coils were fabricated using stretchable tinsel copper threads on textile.
• Integrated tune, match, and detune circuits, along with a hook-and-loop mechanism for modular attachment.
• Performed phantom and in vivo scans at various anatomical flexion angles, including safety temperature tests.

Main Results:

• In vivo MRI demonstrated high sensitivity and coverage across different anatomies and flexion angles.
• Coil stretching increased the sensitive volume by 10.93 mL/cm².
• While SNR decreased during compression, overall image quality for the array remained unaffected, showcasing modular adaptability.

Conclusions:

• The proposed stretchable coil array offers high flexibility, modularity, and conformability for patient-centered MRI.
• Increased sensitive volume and adaptability enhance imaging quality, patient comfort, and enable rapid production.
• Further research is recommended to mitigate resonance shift and SNR decrease during coil deformation.