Combined RF coils for brain imaging at 7 T with receive and transmit resonators

Abstract

MRI has the potential to produce clear anatomic, as well as functional, images of the human body. However, the ability to diagnose is limited by signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the resolution of current medical systems. To remove the challenges prevalent due to the use of high-field scanners, dedicated RF coils are used. Transverse electromagnetic (TEM) coils have the advantage of providing a homogeneous magnetic field throughout the region, but with a low SNR, while surface coils have the advantage of providing a higher SNR, but with low homogeneity. The research discussed combines both advantages into one by utilising transmit-only TEM RF coils (8-channel) along with receive-only surface coils (varying in number) to obtain good homogeneity, as well as significant SNR improvements, from MRI throughout the human brain.