Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (대한자기공명의과학회)
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Improvement of a 4-Channel Spiral-Loop RF Coil Array for TMJ MR Imaging at 7T

7T 악관절 MRI를 위한 4 채널 스파이럴 RF 코일의 성능개선

  • Received : 2012.04.04
  • Accepted : 2012.08.16
  • Published : 2012.08.31
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Abstract

Purpose : In an attempt to further improve the radiofrequency (RF) magnetic ($B_1$) field strength in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) imaging, a 4-channel spiral-loop coil array with RF circuitry was designed and compared with a 4-channel single-loop coil array in terms of $B_1$ field, RF transmit (${B_1}^+$), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and applicability to TMJ imaging in 7T MRI. Materials and Methods: The single- and 4-channel spiral-loop coil arrays were constructed based on the electromagnetic (EM) simulation for the investigation of $B_1$ field. To evaluate the computer simulation results, the $B_1$ field and ${B_1}^+$ maps were measured in 7T. Results: In the EM simulation result and MRI study at 7T, the 4-channel spiral-loop coil array found a superior $B_1$ performance and a higher ${B_1}^+$ profile inside the human head as well as a slightly better SNR than the 4-channel single-loop coil array. Conclusion: Although $B_1$ fields are produced under the influence of the dielectric properties of the subject rather than the coil configuration alone at 7T, each RF coil exhibited not only special but also specific characteristics that could make it suited for specific application such as TMJ imaging.

목적: 7T 악관절 자기공명상의 개선을 위해 제안된 4 채널 스파이럴 코일과 그를 구동시키기 위한 회로는 자기장의 분포, 송신 전용필드, 신호 대 잡음 비, 그리고 악관절 영상에 대하여 일반적인 단일 루프 형태의 코일과 비교되었다. 대상과 방법: 단일 채널 그리고 4 채널 스파이럴 코일은 단일 루프 형태의 코일에 대해 전자기장 시뮬레이션으로 자기장의 분포 및 송신 전용 필드에 대해서 비교 되었고, 7T에서 이를 평가하고자 송신전용 필드와 더불어 자기장의 분포 역시 비교 평가되었다. 결과: 전자기장 시뮬레이션의 결과와 7T 자기공명영상에서 4 채널 스파이럴 코일은 기존에 사용되는 일반적인 구조인 단일 루프 코일에 비해 상대적으로 우수한 자기장의 분포 및 송신 전용 필드를 보였다. 결론: 7T에서는 코일의 구조에 비해 상대적으로 영상화되는 물질의 특성에 더욱더 의존적이나, 각각의 코일은 다른 필드 분포를 나타냄으로써 최적화된 코일은 악관절 영상과 같은 특정 용도로 사용될 수 있음을 확인하였다.

Keywords

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