Augmented 3T imaging performance of the Temporomandibular joint using wireless resonators

Absence of dedicated MRI coils often limits diagnostic imaging performance, especially in small field of view applications. Our goal was to achieve high-resolution Temporomandibular joint MRI at 3T using local floating resonating coil inserts combined with a commercial head array. We design, implement, and evaluate a size-optimized wireless dual-turn loop resonator on a pad and its arrangements within a 48-channel commercial head coil using loaded and unloaded cylindrical phantoms. In vivo volunteer images validate the proposed design for high-resolution imaging in a small field of view. Local small loop resonators and their arrangement within a conventional head coil result in significant SNR gain in the region of interest without compromising parallel imaging performance for both phantom and in vivo images. The size-optimized, easy-to-handle local wireless resonators, and their arrangement within a conventional head array significantly improve Temporomandibular joint imaging performance, allowing diagnostic benefits at 3T in the absence of a dedicated coil.