Flexible array coil for cervical and extraspinal (FACE) MRI at 3.0 Tesla.

High-resolution MRI of the cervical spine (c-spine) and extraspinal neck region requires close-fitting receiver coils to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Conventional, rigid C-spine receiver coils do not adequately contour to the neck to accommodate varying body shapes, resulting in suboptimal SNR. Recent innovations in flexible surface coil array designs may provide three-dimensional (3D) bendability and conformability to optimize SNR, while improving capabilities for higher acceleration factors.

The Coax Dipole: A fully flexible coaxial cable dipole antenna with flattened current distribution for body imaging at 7 Tesla.

Purpose: The coax dipole antenna, a flexible antenna for body imaging at 7T is presented. Similar to the high impedance coil, this coaxial cable antenna is fed on the central conductor and through gaps in the shield, the current passes to the outside of the antenna to generate B field. This could achieve more favorable current distributions and better adaptation to the body curvature.

A plug-and-play, lightweight, single-axis gradient insert design for increasing spatiotemporal resolution in echo planar imaging-based brain imaging.

The goal of this study was to introduce and evaluate the performance of a lightweight, high-performance, single-axis (z-axis) gradient insert design primarily intended for high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging, and aimed at providing both ease of use and a boost in spatiotemporal resolution. The optimal winding positions of the coil were obtained using a genetic algorithm with a cost function that balanced gradient performance (minimum 0.30 mT/m/A) and field linearity (≥16 cm linear region).

The dual-mode dipole: A new array element for 7T body imaging with reduced SAR.

Purpose: To design and test an RF-coil based on two orthogonal eigenmodes in a pair of coupled dipoles, for 7 Tesla body imaging with improved SAR, called dual-mode dipole.

Methods: The proposed coil consists of two dipoles and creates two orthogonal field distributions in a sample (the even and odd modes). A coupler used to excite the modes was miniaturized with the conductor track routing technique.