A novel multi-segment surface coil for neuro-functional magnetic resonance imaging

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Standard quadrature head coils and surface coils have limitations in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and B1 homogeneity for certain neuroimaging applications.
• Developing advanced radiofrequency coil designs is crucial for improving image quality and diagnostic capabilities in MRI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct and evaluate two novel multi-segment (MS) resonators for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• To compare the performance of these MS resonators against conventional surface and head coils in terms of SNR and B1 homogeneity.
• To demonstrate the utility of the MS coils in functional neuroimaging.

Main Methods:

• Construction of two novel multi-segment (MS) resonators.
• Comparative analysis of SNR and B1 homogeneity with a surface coil and a standard quadrature head coil.
• Acquisition of MRI images and assessment of signal fall-off with depth.
• Demonstration of functional neuroimaging using finger-tapping tasks.

Main Results:

• The novel MS resonators exhibited a signal fall-off with depth, similar to surface coils.
• MS coils provided superior SNR compared to the standard head coil at depths below approximately 6 cm.
• Bilateral motor cortex activation was successfully demonstrated in subjects performing finger-tapping tasks.

Conclusions:

• The developed multi-segment resonators represent a promising advancement in MRI coil technology.
• These MS coils offer enhanced SNR performance at specific depths, potentially improving the detection of subtle neural activity.
• The successful demonstration of motor cortex activation highlights the potential clinical and research applications of these novel resonators.