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Published on: January 16, 2021
Evaluating signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement from cryogenic cooling MRI receive coil arrays using full-wave
Abstract:
Cooling an MRI receiving array improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) it is capable of receiving. The Q-factors of the coils may be used to assess the improvement, but no further details can be revealed, such as the spatial distribution of the SNR improvement. This study used full-wave 3D simulations to simulate SNR over a volume and compare the resulting cryogenic SNR improvement with estimates from Q-factors. Full-wave simulations of coil arrays were performed. Their H-fields and impedance matrices were used to evaluate improvements in SNR. Full-wave simulations aligned with results from Q-factor estimation, while also revealing spatial nonuniformity in the expected SNR improvement.Clinical relevance- Full-wave simulation can be used to evaluate SNR improvement by coil cooling. More details can be revealed than rudimentary Q-factor estimation such as SNR improvements being nonuniform throughout an imaging volume.

