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Nohava L, Czerny R, Roat S, Obermann M, Kuehne A, Frass-Kriegl R, Felblinger J, Ginefri JC, Laistler E. Flexible Multi-Turn Multi-Gap Coaxial RF Coils: Design Concept and Implementation for Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 3 and 7 Tesla. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2021; 40:1267-1278. [PMID: 33439836 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2021.3051390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance has become a backbone of medical imaging but suffers from inherently low sensitivity. This can be alleviated by improved radio frequency (RF) coils. Multi-turn multi-gap coaxial coils (MTMG-CCs) introduced in this work are flexible, form-fitting RF coils extending the concept of the single-turn single-gap CC by introducing multiple cable turns and/or gaps. It is demonstrated that this enables free choice of the coil diameter, and thus, optimizing it for the application to a certain anatomical site, while operating at the self-resonance frequency. An equivalent circuit for MTMG-CCs is modeled to predict their resonance frequency. Possible configurations regarding size, number of turns and gaps, and cable types for different B 0 field strengths are calculated. Standard copper wire loop coils (SCs) and flexible CCs made from commercial coaxial cable were fabricated as receive-only coils for 3 T and transmit/receive coils at 7 T with diameters between 4 and 15 cm. Electromagnetic simulations are used to investigate the currents on MTMG-CCs, and demonstrate comparable specific absorption rate of 7 T CCs and SCs. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), transmit efficiency, and active detuning performance of CCs were compared in bench tests and MR experiments. For the form-fitted receive-only CCs at 3 T no significant SNR degradation was found as compared to flat SCs on a balloon phantom. Form-fitted transmit/receive CCs at 7 T showed higher transmit efficiency and SNR. MTMG-CCs can be sized to optimize sensitivity, are flexible and lightweight, and could therefore enable the fabrication of wearable coils with improved patient comfort.
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Gilbert KM, Klassen LM, Mashkovtsev A, Zeman P, Menon RS, Gati JS. Radiofrequency coil for routine ultra-high-field imaging with an unobstructed visual field. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2021; 34:e4457. [PMID: 33305466 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Many neuroscience applications have adopted functional MRI as a tool to investigate the healthy and diseased brain during the completion of a task. While ultra-high-field MRI has allowed for improved contrast and signal-to-noise ratios during functional MRI studies, it remains a challenge to create local radiofrequency coils that can accommodate an unobstructed visual field and be suitable for routine use, while at the same time not compromise performance. Performance (both during transmission and reception) can be improved by using close-fitting coils; however, maintaining sensitivity over the whole brain often requires the introduction of coil elements proximal to the eyes, thereby partially occluding the subject's visual field. This study presents a 7 T head coil, with eight transmit dipoles and 32 receive loops, that is designed to remove visual obstructions from the subject's line of sight, allowing for an unencumbered view of visual stimuli, the reduction of anxiety induced from small enclosures, and the potential for eye-tracking measurements. The coil provides a practical solution for routine imaging, including a split design (anterior and posterior halves) that facilitates subject positioning, including those with impaired mobility, and the placement of devices required for patient comfort and motion reduction. The transmit and receive coils displayed no degradation of performance due to adaptions to the design topology (both mechanical and electrical) required to create an unobstructed visual field. All computer-aided design files, electromagnetic simulation models, transmit field maps and local specific absorption rate matrices are provided to promote reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle M Gilbert
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - L Martyn Klassen
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexander Mashkovtsev
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Zeman
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ravi S Menon
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph S Gati
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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Froeling M, Prompers JJ, Klomp DWJ, van der Velden TA. PCA denoising and Wiener deconvolution of 31 P 3D CSI data to enhance effective SNR and improve point spread function. Magn Reson Med 2021; 85:2992-3009. [PMID: 33522635 PMCID: PMC7986807 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Purpose This study evaluates the performance of 2 processing methods, that is, principal component analysis‐based denoising and Wiener deconvolution, to enhance the quality of phosphorus 3D chemical shift imaging data. Methods Principal component analysis‐based denoising increases the SNR while maintaining spectral information. Wiener deconvolution reduces the FWHM of the voxel point spread function, which is increased by Hamming filtering or Hamming‐weighted acquisition. The proposed methods are evaluated using simulated and in vivo 3D phosphorus chemical shift imaging data by 1) visual inspection of the spatial signal distribution; 2) SNR calculation of the PCr peak; and 3) fitting of metabolite basis functions. Results With the optimal order of processing steps, we show that the effective SNR of in vivo phosphorus 3D chemical shift imaging data can be increased. In simulations, we show we can preserve phosphorus‐containing metabolite peaks that had an SNR < 1 before denoising. Furthermore, using Wiener deconvolution, we were able to reduce the FWHM of the voxel point spread function with only partially reintroducing Gibb‐ringing artifacts while maintaining the SNR. After data processing, fitting of the phosphorus‐containing metabolite signals improved. Conclusion In this study, we have shown that principal component analysis‐based denoising in combination with regularized Wiener deconvolution allows increasing the effective spectral SNR of in vivo phosphorus 3D chemical shift imaging data, with reduction of the FWHM of the voxel point spread function. Processing increased the effective SNR by at least threefold compared to Hamming weighted acquired data and minimized voxel bleeding. With these methods, fitting of metabolite amplitudes became more robust with decreased fitting residuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn Froeling
- Department of Radiology, Imaging Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeanine J Prompers
- Department of Radiology, Imaging Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis W J Klomp
- Department of Radiology, Imaging Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tijl A van der Velden
- Department of Radiology, Imaging Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Ozen AC, Idiyatullin D, Adriany G, Jungst S, Kobayashi N, Groenke BR, Bock M, Garwood M, Nixdorf DR. Design of an Intraoral Dipole Antenna for Dental Applications. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2021; 68:2563-2573. [PMID: 33513097 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2021.3055777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In dental MRI, intraoral coils provide higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than coils placed outside the mouth. This study aims to design an intraoral dipole antenna and demonstrates the feasibility of combining it with an extraoral coil. METHODS Dipole antenna design was chosen over loop design, as it is open toward the distal; therefore, it does not restrain tongue movement. The dipole design offers also an increased depth-of-sensitivity that allows for MRI of dental roots. Different dipole antenna designs were simulated using a finite-difference-time-domain approach. Ribbon, wire, and multi-wire arms were compared. The best design was improved further by covering the ends of the dipole arms with a high-permittivity material. Phantom and in vivo measurements were conducted on a 3T clinical MRI system. RESULTS The best transmit efficiency and homogeneity was achieved with a multi-wire curved dipole antenna with 7 wires for each arm. With an additional high-permittivity cap the transmit field inhomogeneity was further reduced from 20% to 5% along the dipole arm. When combined with extraoral flexible surface-coil, the coupling between the coils was less than -32dB and SNR was increased. CONCLUSION Using intraoral dipole design instead of loop improves patient comfort. We demonstrated feasibility of the intraoral dipole combined with an extraoral flexible coil-array for dental MRI. Dipole antenna enabled decreasing imaging field-of-view, and reduced the prevalent signal from tongue. SIGNIFICANCE This study highlights the advantages and the main challenges of the intraoral RF coils and describes a novel RF coil that addresses those challenges.
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Zhang B, Adriany G, Delabarre L, Radder J, Lagore R, Rutt B, Yang QX, Ugurbil K, Lattanzi R. Effect of radiofrequency shield diameter on signal-to-noise ratio at ultra-high field MRI. Magn Reson Med 2021; 85:3522-3530. [PMID: 33464649 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In this work, we investigated how the position of the radiofrequency (RF) shield can affect the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a receive RF coil. Our aim was to obtain physical insight for the design of a 10.5T 32-channel head coil, subject to the constraints on the diameter of the RF shield imposed by the head gradient coil geometry. METHOD We used full-wave numerical simulations to investigate how the SNR of an RF receive coil depends on the diameter of the RF shield at ultra-high magnetic field (UHF) strengths (≥7T). RESULTS Our simulations showed that there is an SNR-optimal RF shield size at UHF strength, whereas at low field the SNR monotonically increases with the shield diameter. For a 32-channel head coil at 10.5T, an optimally sized RF shield could act as a cylindrical waveguide and increase the SNR in the brain by 27% compared to moving the shield as far as possible from the coil. Our results also showed that a separate transmit array between the RF shield and the receive array could considerably reduce SNR even if they are decoupled. CONCLUSION At sufficiently high magnetic field strength, the design of local RF coils should be optimized together with the design of the RF shield to benefit from both near field and resonant modes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Zhang
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Advanced Imaging Research Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Gregor Adriany
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Lance Delabarre
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jerahmie Radder
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Russell Lagore
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brian Rutt
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Qing X Yang
- Department of Radiology, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kamil Ugurbil
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Riccardo Lattanzi
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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Dietrich S, Aigner CS, Kolbitsch C, Mayer J, Ludwig J, Schmidt S, Schaeffter T, Schmitter S. 3D Free-breathing multichannel absolute B 1 + Mapping in the human body at 7T. Magn Reson Med 2020; 85:2552-2567. [PMID: 33283915 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To introduce and investigate a method for free-breathing three-dimensional (3D) B 1 + mapping of the human body at ultrahigh field (UHF), which can be used to generate homogenous flip angle (FA) distributions in the human body at UHF. METHODS A 3D relative B 1 + mapping sequence with a radial phase-encoding (RPE) k-space trajectory was developed and applied in 11 healthy subjects at 7T. An RPE-based actual flip angle mapping method was applied with a dedicated B 1 + shim setting to calibrate the relative B 1 + maps yielding absolute B 1 + maps of the individual transmit channels. The method was evaluated in a motion phantom and by multidimensional in vivo measurements. Additionally, 3D gradient echo scans with and without static phase-only B 1 + shims were used to qualitatively validate B 1 + shim predictions. RESULTS The phantom validation revealed good agreement for B 1 + maps between dynamic measurement and static reference acquisition. The proposed 3D method was successfully validated in vivo by comparing magnitude and phase distributions with a 2D Cartesian reference. 3D B 1 + maps free from visible motion artifacts were successfully acquired for 11 subjects with body mass indexes ranging from 19 kg/m2 to 34 kg/m2 . 3D respiration-resolved absolute B 1 + maps indicated FA differences between inhalation and exhalation up to 15% for one channel and up to 24% for combined channels for shallow breathing. CONCLUSION The proposed method provides respiration-resolved absolute 3D B 1 + maps of the human body at UHF, which enables the investigation and development of 3D B 1 + shimming and parallel transmission methods to further enhance body imaging at UHF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Dietrich
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph S Aigner
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Kolbitsch
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Mayer
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Juliane Ludwig
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon Schmidt
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Schaeffter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
- Department of Medical Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schmitter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Sadeghi-Tarakameh A, Adriany G, Metzger GJ, Lagore RL, Jungst S, DelaBarre L, Van de Moortele PF, Ugurbil K, Atalar E, Eryaman Y. Improving radiofrequency power and specific absorption rate management with bumped transmit elements in ultra-high field MRI. Magn Reson Med 2020; 84:3485-3493. [PMID: 32767392 PMCID: PMC7722062 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In this study, we investigate a strategy to reduce the local specific absorption rate (SAR) while keeping B 1 + constant inside the region of interest (ROI) at the ultra-high field (B0 ≥ 7T) MRI. METHODS Locally raising the resonance structure under the discontinuity (i.e., creating a bump) increases the distance between the accumulated charges and the tissue. As a result, it reduces the electric field and local SAR generated by these charges inside the tissue. The B 1 + at a point that is sufficiently far from the coil, however, is not affected by this modification. In this study, three different resonant elements (i.e., loop coil, snake antenna, and fractionated dipole [FD]) are investigated. For experimental validation, a bumped FD is further investigated at 10.5T. After the validation, the transmit performances of eight-channel arrays of each element are compared through electromagnetic (EM) simulations. RESULTS Introducing a bump reduced the peak 10g-averaged SAR by 21, 26, 23% for the loop and snake antenna at 7T, and FD at 10.5T, respectively. In addition, eight-channel bumped FD array at 10.5T had a 27% lower peak 10g-averaged SAR in a realistic human body simulation (i.e., prostate imaging) compared to an eight-channel FD array. CONCLUSION In this study, we investigated a simple design strategy based on adding bumps to a resonant element to reduce the local SAR while maintaining B 1 + inside an ROI. As an example, we modified an FD and performed EM simulations and phantom experiments with a 10.5T scanner. Results show that the peak 10g-averaged SAR can be reduced more than 25%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Sadeghi-Tarakameh
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
- National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), Ankara, Turkey
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gregor Adriany
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gregory J. Metzger
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Russell L. Lagore
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Steve Jungst
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Lance DelaBarre
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Kamil Ugurbil
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Ergin Atalar
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
- National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yigitcan Eryaman
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Woo MK, DelaBarre L, Lee BY, Waks M, Lagore RL, Radder J, Eryaman Y, Ugurbil K, Adriany G. Evaluation of a 16-channel transceiver loop + dipole antenna array for human head imaging at 10.5 tesla. IEEE ACCESS : PRACTICAL INNOVATIONS, OPEN SOLUTIONS 2020; 8:203555-203563. [PMID: 33747679 PMCID: PMC7978235 DOI: 10.1109/access.2020.3036598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated a 16-channel loop + dipole (LD) transceiver antenna array with improved specific absorption rate (SAR) efficiency for 10.5 Tesla (T) human head imaging apsplications. Three different array designs with equal inner dimensions were considered: an 8-channel dipole antenna, an 8-channel loop, and a 16-channel LD antenna arrays. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and B1 + efficiency (in units of μT per √W) were simulated and measured in 10.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments. For the safety validation, 10 g SAR and SAR efficiency (defined as the B1 + over √ (peak 10 g SAR)) were calculated through simulation. Finally, high resolution porcine brain images were acquired with the 16-channel LD antenna array, including a fast turbo-spin echo (TSE) sequence incorporating B1 shimming techniques. Both the simulation and experiments demonstrated that the combined 16-channel LD antenna array showed similar B1 + efficiency compared to the 8-channel dipole antenna and the 8-channel loop arrays in a circular polarized (CP) mode. In a central 2 mm × 2 mm region of the phantom, however, the 16-channel LD antenna array showed an improvement in peak 10 g SAR of 27.5 % and 32.5 % over the 8-channel dipole antenna and the 8-channel loop arrays, respectively. We conclude that the proposed 16-channel head LD antenna array design is capable of achieving ~7% higher SAR efficiency at 10.5 T compared to either the 8-channel loop-only or the 8-channel dipole-only antenna arrays of the same dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myung Kyun Woo
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Lance DelaBarre
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Byeong-Yeul Lee
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Integrated Research Facility (IRF), Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Matt Waks
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Russell Luke Lagore
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jerahmie Radder
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Yigitcan Eryaman
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kamil Ugurbil
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gregor Adriany
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Ibrahim ESH, Arpinar VE, Muftuler LT, Stojanovska J, Nencka AS, Koch KM. Cardiac functional magnetic resonance imaging at 7T: Image quality optimization and ultra-high field capabilities. World J Radiol 2020; 12:231-246. [PMID: 33240463 PMCID: PMC7653183 DOI: 10.4329/wjr.v12.i10.231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 7T cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) introduces several advantages, as well as some limitations, compared to lower-field imaging. The capabilities of ultra-high field (UHF) MRI have not been fully exploited in cardiac functional imaging.
AIM To optimize 7T cardiac MRI functional imaging without the need for conducting B1 shimming or subject-specific tuning, which improves scan efficiency. In this study, we provide results from phantom and in vivo scans using a multi-channel transceiver modular coil.
METHODS We investigated the effects of adding a dielectric pad at different locations next to the imaged region of interest on improving image quality in subjects with different body habitus. We also investigated the effects of adjusting the imaging flip angle in cine and tagging sequences on improving image quality, B1 field homogeneity, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), blood-myocardium contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and tagging persistence throughout the cardiac cycle.
RESULTS The results showed the capability of achieving improved image quality with high spatial resolution (0.75 mm × 0.75 mm × 2 mm), high temporal resolution (20 ms), and increased tagging persistence (for up to 1200 ms cardiac cycle duration) at 7T cardiac MRI after adjusting scan set-up and imaging parameters. Adjusting the imaging flip angle was essential for achieving optimal SNR and myocardium-to-blood CNR. Placing a dielectric pad at the anterior left position of the chest resulted in improved B1 homogeneity compared to other positions, especially in subjects with small chest size.
CONCLUSION Improved regional and global cardiac functional imaging can be achieved at 7T MRI through simple scan set-up adjustment and imaging parameter optimization, which would allow for more streamlined and efficient UHF cardiac MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- El-Sayed H Ibrahim
- Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - V Emre Arpinar
- Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - L Tugan Muftuler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Jadranka Stojanovska
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Andrew S Nencka
- Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Kevin M Koch
- Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
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Ibrahim ESH, Arpinar VE, Muftuler LT, Stojanovska J, Nencka AS, Koch KM. Cardiac functional magnetic resonance imaging at 7T: Image quality optimization and ultra-high field capabilities. World J Radiol 2020. [DOI: 10.4329/wjr.v12.i10.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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Wilcox M, Wright SM, McDougall M. A Review of Non- 1H RF Receive Arrays in Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy. IEEE OPEN JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1:290-300. [PMID: 35402958 PMCID: PMC8975242 DOI: 10.1109/ojemb.2020.3030531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now common practice to use radiofrequency (RF) coils to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in 1H magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy experiments. Use of array coils for non-1H experiments, however, has been historically more limited despite the fact that these nuclei suffer inherently lower sensitivity and could benefit greatly from an increased SNR. Recent advancements in receiver technology and increased support from scanner manufacturers have now opened greater options for the use of array coils for non-1H magnetic resonance experiments. This paper reviews the research in adopting array coil technology with an emphasis on studies of the most commonly studied non-1H nuclei including 31P, 13C, 23Na, and 19F. These nuclei offer complementary information to 1H imaging and spectroscopy and have proven themselves important in the study of numerous disease processes. While recent work with non-1H array coils has shown promising results, the technology is not yet widely utilized and should see substantial developments in the coming years.
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Fagan AJ, Amrami KK, Welker KM, Frick MA, Felmlee JP, Watson RE. Magnetic Resonance Safety in the 7T Environment. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 2020; 28:573-582. [PMID: 33040997 DOI: 10.1016/j.mric.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The arrival of 7T MR imaging into the clinic represents a significant step-change in MR technology. This article describes safety concerns associated with imaging at 7T, including the increased magnetic forces on magnetic objects at 7T and the interaction of the 300 MHz (Larmor) radiofrequency energy with tissue in the body. A dedicated multidisciplinary 7T Safety team should develop safety policies and procedures to address these safety challenges and keep abreast of best practice in the field. The off-label imaging of implanted devices is discussed, and also the need for staff training to deal with complexities of patient handling and image interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Fagan
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Kimberly K Amrami
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Kirk M Welker
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Matthew A Frick
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Joel P Felmlee
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Robert E Watson
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Delgado PR, Kuehne A, Periquito JS, Millward JM, Pohlmann A, Waiczies S, Niendorf T. B 1 inhomogeneity correction of RARE MRI with transceive surface radiofrequency probes. Magn Reson Med 2020; 84:2684-2701. [PMID: 32447779 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The use of surface radiofrequency (RF) coils is common practice to boost sensitivity in (pre)clinical MRI. The number of transceive surface RF coils is rapidly growing due to the surge in cryogenically cooled RF technology and ultrahigh-field MRI. Consequently, there is an increasing need for effective correction of the excitation field ( B 1 + ) inhomogeneity inherent in these coils. Retrospective B1 correction permits quantitative MRI, but this usually requires a pulse sequence-specific analytical signal intensity (SI) equation. Such an equation is not available for fast spin-echo (Rapid Acquisition with Relaxation Enhancement, RARE) MRI. Here we present, test, and validate retrospective B1 correction methods for RARE. METHODS We implemented the commonly used sensitivity correction and developed an empirical model-based method and a hybrid combination of both. Tests and validations were performed with a cryogenically cooled RF probe and a single-loop RF coil. Accuracy of SI quantification and T1 contrast were evaluated after correction. RESULTS The three described correction methods achieved dramatic improvements in B1 homogeneity and significantly improved SI quantification and T1 contrast, with mean SI errors reduced from >40% to >10% following correction in all cases. Upon correction, images of phantoms and mouse heads demonstrated homogeneity comparable to that of images acquired with a volume resonator. This was quantified by SI profile, SI ratio (error < 10%), and percentage of integral uniformity (PIU > 80% in vivo and ex vivo compared to PIU > 87% with the reference RF coil). CONCLUSION This work demonstrates the efficacy of three B1 correction methods tailored for transceive surface RF probes and RARE MRI. The corrected images are suitable for quantification and show comparable results between the three methods, opening the way for T1 measurements and X-nuclei quantification using surface transceiver RF coils. This approach is applicable to other MR techniques for which no analytical SI exists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Ramos Delgado
- Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité Medical Faculty and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - João S Periquito
- Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité Medical Faculty and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jason M Millward
- Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Pohlmann
- Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sonia Waiczies
- Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thoralf Niendorf
- Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité Medical Faculty and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany.,MRI.TOOLS GmbH, Berlin, Germany
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Steensma B, van de Moortele PF, Ertürk A, Grant A, Adriany G, Luijten P, Klomp D, van den Berg N, Metzger G, Raaijmakers A. Introduction of the snake antenna array: Geometry optimization of a sinusoidal dipole antenna for 10.5T body imaging with lower peak SAR. Magn Reson Med 2020; 84:2885-2896. [PMID: 32367560 PMCID: PMC7496175 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To improve imaging performance for body MRI with a local transmit array at 10.5T, the geometry of a dipole antenna was optimized to achieve lower peak specific absorption rate (SAR) levels and a more uniform transmit profile. Methods Electromagnetic simulations on a phantom were used to evaluate the SAR and
B1+‐performance of different dipole antenna geometries. The best performing antenna (the snake antenna) was simulated on human models in a 12‐channel array configuration for safety assessment and for comparison to a previous antenna design. This 12‐channel array was constructed after which electromagnetic simulations were validated by
B1+‐maps and temperature measurements. After obtaining approval by the Food and Drug Administration to scan with the snake antenna array, in vivo imaging was performed on 2 volunteers. Results Simulation results on a phantom indicate a lower SAR and a higher transmit efficiency for the snake antenna compared to the fractionated dipole array. Similar results are found on a human body model: when comparing the trade‐off between uniformity and peak SAR, the snake antenna performs better for all imaging targets. Simulations and measurements are in good agreement. Preliminary imaging result were acquired in 2 volunteers with the 12‐channel snake antenna array. Conclusion By optimizing the geometry of a dipole antenna, peak SAR levels were lowered while achieving a more uniform transmit field as demonstrated in simulations on a phantom and a human body model. The array was constructed, validated, and successfully used to image 2 individuals at 10.5T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Steensma
- Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Arcan Ertürk
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.,Restorative Therapies Group, Medtronic, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Andrea Grant
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Gregor Adriany
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Peter Luijten
- Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Dennis Klomp
- Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Nico van den Berg
- Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Gregory Metzger
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Alexander Raaijmakers
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.,Biomedical Image Analysis, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Image Artifact Management for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging on a 7 T Scanner Using Single-Channel Radiofrequency Transmit Mode. Invest Radiol 2020; 54:781-791. [PMID: 31503079 DOI: 10.1097/rli.0000000000000598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this work was to devise mitigation strategies for addressing a range of image artifacts on a clinical 7 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner using the regulatory-approved single-channel radiofrequency transmit mode and vendor-supplied radiofrequency coils to facilitate clinical scanning within reasonable scan times. MATERIALS AND METHODS Optimized imaging sequence protocols were developed for routine musculoskeletal knee and neurological imaging. Sources of severe image nonuniformities were identified, and mitigation strategies were devised. A range of custom-made high permittivity dielectric pads were used to compensate for B1 and B1 inhomogeneities, and also for magnetic susceptibility-induced signal dropouts particularly in the basal regions of the temporal lobes and in the cerebellum. RESULTS Significant improvements in image uniformity were obtained using dielectric pads in the knee and brain. A combination of small voxels, reduced field of view B0 shimming, and high in-plane parallel imaging factors helped to minimize signal loss in areas of high susceptibility-induced field distortions. The high inherent signal-to-noise ratio at 7 T allowed for high receiver bandwidths and thin slices to minimize chemical shift artifacts. Intermittent artifacts due to radiofrequency inversion pulse limitations (power, bandwidth) were minimized with dielectric pads. A patient with 2 implanted metallic cranial fixation devices located within the radiofrequency transmit field was successfully imaged, with minimal image geometric distortions. CONCLUSIONS Challenges relating to severe image artifacts at 7 T using single-channel radiofrequency transmit functionality in the knee and brain were overcome using the approaches described in this article. The resultant high diagnostic image quality paves the way for incorporation of this technology into the routine clinical workflow. Further developmental efforts are required to expand the range of applications to other anatomical areas, and to expand the evidence- and knowledge-base relating to the safety of scanning patients with implanted metallic devices.
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66
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A Novel Mono-surface Antisymmetric 8Tx/16Rx Coil Array for Parallel Transmit Cardiac MRI in Pigs at 7T. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3117. [PMID: 32080274 PMCID: PMC7033245 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59949-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel mono-surface antisymmetric 16-element transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) coil array was designed, simulated, constructed, and tested for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) in pigs at 7 T. The cardiac array comprised of a mono-surface 16-loops with two central elements arranged anti-symmetrically and flanked by seven elements on either side. The array was configured for parallel transmit (pTx) mode to have an eight channel transmit and 16-channel receive (8Tx/16Rx) coil array. Electromagnetic (EM) simulations, bench-top measurements, phantom, and MRI experiments with two pig cadavers (68 and 46 kg) were performed. Finally, the coil was used in pilot in-vivo measurements with a 60 kg pig. Flip angle (FA), geometry factor (g-factor), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) maps, and high-resolution cardiac images were acquired with an in-plane resolution of 0.6 mm × 0.6 mm (in-vivo) and 0.3 mm × 0.3 mm (ex-vivo). The mean g-factor over the heart was 1.26 (R = 6). Static phase [Formula: see text] shimming in a pig body phantom with the optimal phase vectors makes possible to improve the [Formula: see text] homogeneity by factor > 2 and transmit efficiency by factor > 3 compared to zero phases (before RF shimming). Parallel imaging performed in the in-vivo measurements demonstrated well preserved diagnostic quality of the resulting images at acceleration factors up to R = 6. The described hardware design can be adapted for arrays optimized for animals and humans with a larger number of elements (32-64) while maintaining good decoupling for various MRI applications at UHF (e.g., cardiac, head, and spine).
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Lakshmanan K, Cloos M, Brown R, Lattanzi R, Sodickson DK, Wiggins GC. The "Loopole" Antenna: A Hybrid Coil Combining Loop and Electric Dipole Properties for Ultra-High-Field MRI. CONCEPTS IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE. PART B, MAGNETIC RESONANCE ENGINEERING 2020; 2020:8886543. [PMID: 34140840 PMCID: PMC8207246 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8886543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To revisit the "loopole," an unusual coil topology whose unbalanced current distribution captures both loop and electric dipole properties, which can be advantageous in ultra-high-field MRI. METHODS Loopole coils were built by deliberately breaking the capacitor symmetry of traditional loop coils. The corresponding current distribution, transmit efficiency, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were evaluated in simulation and experiments in comparison to those of loops and electric dipoles at 7 T (297 MHz). RESULTS The loopole coil exhibited a hybrid current pattern, comprising features of both loops and electric dipole current patterns. Depending on the orientation relative to B0, the loopole demonstrated significant performance boost in either the transmit efficiency or SNR at the center of a dielectric sample when compared to a traditional loop. Modest improvements were observed when compared to an electric dipole. CONCLUSION The loopole can achieve high performance by supporting both divergence-free and curl-free current patterns, which are both significant contributors to the ultimate intrinsic performance at ultra-high field. While electric dipoles exhibit similar hybrid properties, loopoles maintain the engineering advantages of loops, such as geometric decoupling and reduced resonance frequency dependence on sample loading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Lakshmanan
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Martijn Cloos
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ryan Brown
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Riccardo Lattanzi
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel K. Sodickson
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Tech4Health, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Graham C. Wiggins
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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He X, Ertürk MA, Grant A, Wu X, Lagore RL, DelaBarre L, Eryaman Y, Adriany G, Auerbach EJ, Van de Moortele PF, Uğurbil K, Metzger GJ. First in-vivo human imaging at 10.5T: Imaging the body at 447 MHz. Magn Reson Med 2019; 84:289-303. [PMID: 31846121 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the feasibility of imaging the human torso and to evaluate the performance of several radiofrequency (RF) management strategies at 10.5T. METHODS Healthy volunteers were imaged on a 10.5T whole-body scanner in multiple target anatomies, including the prostate, hip, kidney, liver, and heart. Phase-only shimming and spoke pulses were used to demonstrate their performance in managing the B 1 + inhomogeneity present at 447 MHz. Imaging protocols included both qualitative and quantitative acquisitions to show the feasibility of imaging with different contrasts. RESULTS High-quality images were acquired and demonstrated excellent overall contrast and signal-to-noise ratio. The experimental results matched well with predictions and suggested good translational capabilities of the RF management strategies previously developed at 7T. Phase-only shimming provided increased efficiency, but showed pronounced limitations in homogeneity, demonstrating the need for the increased degrees of freedom made possible through single- and multispoke RF pulse design. CONCLUSION The first in-vivo human imaging was successfully performed at 10.5T using previously developed RF management strategies. Further improvement in RF coils, transmit chain, and full integration of parallel transmit functionality are needed to fully realize the benefits of 10.5T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan He
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - M Arcan Ertürk
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Andrea Grant
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Xiaoping Wu
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Russell L Lagore
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Lance DelaBarre
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Yiğitcan Eryaman
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Gregor Adriany
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Eddie J Auerbach
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | | | - Kâmil Uğurbil
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Gregory J Metzger
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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69
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Orzada S, Solbach K, Gratz M, Brunheim S, Fiedler TM, Johst S, Bitz AK, Shooshtary S, Abuelhaija A, Voelker MN, Rietsch SHG, Kraff O, Maderwald S, Flöser M, Oehmigen M, Quick HH, Ladd ME. A 32-channel parallel transmit system add-on for 7T MRI. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222452. [PMID: 31513637 PMCID: PMC6742215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE A 32-channel parallel transmit (pTx) add-on for 7 Tesla whole-body imaging is presented. First results are shown for phantom and in-vivo imaging. METHODS The add-on system consists of a large number of hardware components, including modulators, amplifiers, SAR supervision, peripheral devices, a control computer, and an integrated 32-channel transmit/receive body array. B1+ maps in a phantom as well as B1+ maps and structural images in large volunteers are acquired to demonstrate the functionality of the system. EM simulations are used to ensure safe operation. RESULTS Good agreement between simulation and experiment is shown. Phantom and in-vivo acquisitions show a field of view of up to 50 cm in z-direction. Selective excitation with 100 kHz sampling rate is possible. The add-on system does not affect the quality of the original single-channel system. CONCLUSION The presented 32-channel parallel transmit system shows promising performance for ultra-high field whole-body imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Orzada
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Klaus Solbach
- RF & Microwave Technology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Marcel Gratz
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunheim
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Thomas M. Fiedler
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sören Johst
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas K. Bitz
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Electromagnetic Theory and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, FH Aachen – University of Applied Sciences, Aachen, Germany
| | - Samaneh Shooshtary
- RF & Microwave Technology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Ashraf Abuelhaija
- RF & Microwave Technology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian N. Voelker
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefan H. G. Rietsch
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Oliver Kraff
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefan Maderwald
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Martina Flöser
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark Oehmigen
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Harald H. Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Mark E. Ladd
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy and Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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70
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Connell IRO, Menon RS. Shape Optimization of an Electric Dipole Array for 7 Tesla Neuroimaging. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2019; 38:2177-2187. [PMID: 30908199 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2019.2906507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Radio-frequency (RF) arrays constructed using electric dipoles have potential benefits for transmit and receive applications using the ultra-high field (UHF) MRI. This paper examines some of the implementation barriers regarding dipole RF arrays for human head imaging at 7 T. The dipole array was constructed with conformal, meandered dipoles with dimensions selected utilizing an evolutionary-based optimization routine to shape-optimize the dipole structure. Coupling matrix synthesis (CMS) was utilized to decouple the dipole array. Mean and worst-case transmission between nearest-neighbour dipoles was -17.2 and -15.5 dB, respectively (±2.4 dB). Transmit efficiencies of 24.6 nT/V for the entire brain and 26.0 nT/V across the axial slice were observed. The total and peak 10-g SAR, normalized to 1 Watt accepted input power per channel, was 0.163 and 0.601 W/kg, respectively. Maximum and mean noise correlations were -17 dB and -32 dB, respectively. The use of both CMS and a novel shape optimization routine to design a dipole array translated into sufficient transmit uniformity with a simultaneous reduction in 10-g SAR in comparison to a non-optimized dipole array of the same geometry. As a receiver, the dipole array maintained high orthogonality between elements, resulting in strong parallel imaging performance.
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Elabyad IA, Terekhov M, Stefanescu MR, Lohr D, Fischer M, Schreiber LM. Design of a novel antisymmetric coil array for parallel transmit cardiac MRI in pigs at 7 T. JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE (SAN DIEGO, CALIF. : 1997) 2019; 305:195-208. [PMID: 31306985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The design, simulation, assembly and testing of a novel dedicated antisymmetric transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) coil array to demonstrate the feasibility of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) in pigs at 7 T was described. The novel antisymmetric array is composed of eight elements based on mirrored and reversed loop orientations to generate varying B1+ field harmonics for RF shimming. The central four loop elements formed together a pair of antisymmetric L-shaped channels to allow good decoupling between all neighboring elements of the entire array. The antisymmetric array was compared to a standard symmetric rectilinear loop array with an identical housing dimension. Both arrays were driven in the parallel transmit (pTx) mode forming an 8-channel transmit and 16-channel receive (8Tx/16Rx) coil array, where the same posterior array was combined with both anterior arrays. The hardware and imaging performance of the dedicated cardiac arrays were validated and compared by means of electromagnetic (EM) simulations, bench-top measurements, phantom, and ex-vivo MRI experiments with 46 kg female pig. Combined signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), geometry factor (g-factor), noise correlation maps, and high resolution ex-vivo cardiac images were acquired with an in-plane resolution of 0.3 mm × 0.3 mm using both arrays. The novel antisymmetric array enhanced the SNR within the heart by about two times and demonstrated good decoupling and improved control of the B1+ field distributions for RF shimming compared to the standard coil array. Parallel imaging with acceleration factor (R) up to 4 was possible using the novel antisymmetric coil array while maintaining the mean g-factor within the heart region of 1.13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim A Elabyad
- Chair of Cellular and Molecular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, D-97078 Wuerzburg, Germany; Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering, Thebes Higher Institute of Engineering, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - M Terekhov
- Chair of Cellular and Molecular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, D-97078 Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - M R Stefanescu
- Chair of Cellular and Molecular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, D-97078 Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - D Lohr
- Chair of Cellular and Molecular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, D-97078 Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - M Fischer
- Chair of Cellular and Molecular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, D-97078 Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - L M Schreiber
- Chair of Cellular and Molecular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital Wuerzburg, D-97078 Wuerzburg, Germany.
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Zivkovic I, de Castro CA, Webb A. Design and characterization of an eight-element passively fed meander-dipole array with improved specific absorption rate efficiency for 7 T body imaging. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2019; 32:e4106. [PMID: 31131944 PMCID: PMC6771742 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the transmit efficiency and specific absorption rate (SAR) efficiency of a new eight-element passively fed meander-dipole antenna array designed for body MRI at 7 T, and to compare these values with a conventional directly fed meander-dipole array. METHODS The main radiating element of the passively fed dipole is printed on one side of a dielectric substrate and is capacitively coupled to a shorter feeding element (connected to the coaxial cable) printed on the opposite side of the substrate. The transmit (B1+ ) field and SAR were simulated on a phantom and on a human voxel model for both a passively fed and a directly fed single element. Two eight-channel arrays containing, respectively, directly and passively fed meander dipoles were then simulated, and experimental B1+ maps and T2 -weighted spin echo images of the prostate were obtained in vivo for four healthy volunteers. RESULTS In simulations, the mean transmit efficiency (B1+ per square root input power) value in the prostate was ~ 12.5% lower, and the maximum 10 g average SAR was 44% lower for the array containing passively fed dipoles, resulting in ~ 15% higher SAR efficiency for the passively fed array. In vivo RF-shimmed turbo spin echo images were acquired from both arrays, and showed image SNRs within 5% of one another. CONCLUSION A passive-feeding network for meander-dipole antennas has been shown to be a simple method to increase the SAR efficiency of a multi-element array used for body imaging at high fields. We hypothesize that the main reason for the increase in SAR efficiency is the storage of the strong conservative electric field in the dielectric between the feeding element and the radiating element of the dipole. The passive-feeding approach can be generalized to other dipole geometries and configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Zivkovic
- C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRI, Department of RadiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | | | - Andrew Webb
- C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRI, Department of RadiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
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73
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Erturk MA, Li X, Van de Moortele PF, Ugurbil K, Metzger GJ. Evolution of UHF Body Imaging in the Human Torso at 7T: Technology, Applications, and Future Directions. Top Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 28:101-124. [PMID: 31188271 PMCID: PMC6587233 DOI: 10.1097/rmr.0000000000000202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
The potential value of ultrahigh field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy to biomedical research and in clinical applications drives the development of technologies to overcome its many challenges. The increased difficulties of imaging the human torso compared with the head include its overall size, the dimensions and location of its anatomic targets, the increased prevalence and magnitude of physiologic effects, the limited availability of tailored RF coils, and the necessary transmit chain hardware. Tackling these issues involves addressing notoriously inhomogeneous transmit B1 (B1) fields, limitations in peak B1, larger spatial variations of the static magnetic field B0, and patient safety issues related to implants and local RF power deposition. However, as research institutions and vendors continue to innovate, the potential gains are beginning to be realized. Solutions overcoming the unique challenges associated with imaging the human torso are reviewed as are current studies capitalizing on the benefits of UHF in several anatomies and applications. As the field progresses, strategies associated with the RF system architecture, calibration methods, RF pulse optimization, and power monitoring need to be further integrated into the MRI systems making what are currently complex processes more streamlined. Meanwhile, the UHF MRI community must seize the opportunity to build upon what have been so far proof of principle and feasibility studies and begin to further explore the true impact in both research and the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Arcan Erturk
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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74
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Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been driven toward ultrahigh magnetic fields (UHF) in order to benefit from correspondingly higher signal-to-noise ratio and spectral resolution. Technological challenges associated with UHF, such as increased radiofrequency (RF) energy deposition and RF excitation inhomogeneity, limit realization of the full potential of these benefits. Parallel RF transmission (pTx) enables decreases in the inhomogeneity of RF excitations and in RF energy deposition by using multiple-transmit RF coils driven independently and operating simultaneously. pTx plays a fundamental role in UHF MRI by bringing the potential applications of UHF into reality. In this review article, we review the recent developments in pTx pulse design and RF safety in pTx. Simultaneous multislice imaging and inner volume imaging using pTx are reviewed with a focus on UHF applications. Emerging pTx design approaches using improved pTx design frameworks and calibrations are reviewed together with calibration-free approaches that remove the necessity of time-consuming calibrations necessary for successful pTx. Lastly, we focus on the safety of pTx that is improved by using intersubject variability analysis, proactively managing pTx and temperature-based pTx approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cem M. Deniz
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R) and Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
- RF Test Labs, LLC, New York, NY
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75
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Abstract
Radiofrequency (RF) coils are an essential part of the magnetic resonance (MR) system. To exploit the inherently higher signal-to-noise ratio at ultrahigh magnetic fields (UHF), research sites were forced to build up expertise in RF coil development, as the number of commercially available RF coils were limited. In addition, an integrated transmit body RF coil, which is well-established at MR systems of lower field strength, is still missing at UHF due to technical and physical constraints. This review article provides a brief recapitulation of RF characteristics and RF coils in general to introduce terminology and RF-related parameters, and will then provide an extensive overview of current state-of-the-art RF coils used for MRI from head to toe at 7 Tesla. Finally, a section on RF safety will briefly discuss challenges in performing a safety assessment for custom-designed RF coils, and issues arising from the interaction of the RF field and potentially implanted medical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Kraff
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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76
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Clément J, Gruetter R, Ipek Ö. A combined 32-channel receive-loops/8-channel transmit-dipoles coil array for whole-brain MR imaging at 7T. Magn Reson Med 2019; 82:1229-1241. [PMID: 31081176 PMCID: PMC6618274 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Multichannel receive arrays provide high SNR and parallel‐imaging capabilities, while transmit‐only dipole arrays have been shown to achieve a large coverage of the whole‐brain including the cerebellum. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize the performances of a 32‐channel receive‐only loop array combined with an 8‐channel dipole coil array at 7T for the first time. Methods The 8Tx‐dipoles/32Rx‐loops coil array was characterized by the SNR, g‐factors, noise correlation matrix, accelerated image quality, and B1+ maps, and compared with a commercial 1Tx‐birdcage/32Rx‐loops array. Simulated and measured B1+ maps were shown for the 8Tx‐dipoles/32Rx‐loops coil array and compared with the 8Tx/Rx dipole array. Results The in‐house built 32‐channel receive coil demonstrated a large longitudinal coverage of the brain, particularly the upper neck area. G‐factors and accelerated MR acquisitions demonstrated robust performances up to R = 4 in 2D, and R = 8 (4 × 2) in 3D. A 83% increase in SNR was measured over the cerebellum with the in‐house built 8Tx/32Rx coil array compared to the commercial 1Tx/32Rx, while similar performances were obtained in the cerebral cortex. Conclusions The combined 32‐channel receive/8‐channel transmit coil array demonstrated high transmit‐receive performances compared to the commercial receive array at 7T, notably in the cerebellum. We conclude that in combination with parallel transmit capabilities, this coil is particularly suitable for whole‐brain MR studies at 7T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémie Clément
- LIFMET, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rolf Gruetter
- LIFMET, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Radiology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Radiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Özlem Ipek
- CIBM-AIT, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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77
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Steensma BR, Luttje M, Voogt IJ, Klomp DW, Luijten PR, van den Berg CA, Raaijmakers AJ. Comparing signal-to-noise ratio for prostate imaging at 7T and 3T. J Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 49:1446-1455. [PMID: 30350388 PMCID: PMC6587835 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.26527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In MRI, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) theoretically increases with B0 field strength. However, because of attenuation of the radiofrequency (RF) fields at 7T, it is not certain if this SNR gain can be realized for prostate imaging. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS To investigate the SNR gain in prostate imaging at 7T as compared with 3T. It is expected that SNR will improve for prostate imaging at 7T compared with 3T. STUDY TYPE Prospective. SUBJECTS Four healthy volunteers and one prostate cancer patient. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE All subjects were scanned at 3T and at 7T using optimal coil setups for both field strengths. For all volunteers, proton density-weighted images were acquired for SNR analysis and actual flip angle imaging (AFI) B 1 + | maps were acquired for correction of measured SNR values. In the patient, a T2 -weighted (T2 w) image was acquired at 3T and at 7T. ASSESSMENT SNR was calculated in the prostate region for all volunteers. SNR was normalized for flip angle, receiver bandwidth, and voxel volume. SNR was also calculated for different sensitivity encoding (SENSE) acceleration factors. STATISTICAL TESTING SNR values are represented as the arithmetic mean of SNR values in the prostate. Estimated SNR in the T2 w image is calculated as the arithmetic mean of the signal intensity (SI) divided by the standard deviation of the SI in a specified zone. Tumor-to-tissue contrast is calculated as (SItumor +SIzone )/( SItumor -SIzone ). RESULTS An increase in SNR ranging from 1.7-fold to 2.8-fold was measured in the prostate at 7T in comparison to 3T for four volunteers. At 7T, it is possible to achieve a 4-fold SENSE acceleration in the left-right direction with similar SNR to a nonaccelerated 3T image. T2 w imaging was done at 3T and 7T in one patient, where improved tumor-to-tissue contrast was demonstrated at 7T. DATA CONCLUSION SNR improves for prostate imaging at 7T as compared with 3T. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;49:1446-1455.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart R. Steensma
- University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of RadiologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Mariska Luttje
- University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of RadiologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Ingmar J. Voogt
- University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of RadiologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Dennis W.J. Klomp
- University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of RadiologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Peter R. Luijten
- University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of RadiologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | | | - Alexander J.E. Raaijmakers
- University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of RadiologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Eindhoven University of TechnologyDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringUtrechtThe Netherlands
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78
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Rietsch SHG, Brunheim S, Orzada S, Voelker MN, Maderwald S, Bitz AK, Gratz M, Ladd ME, Quick HH. Development and evaluation of a 16-channel receive-only RF coil to improve 7T ultra-high field body MRI with focus on the spine. Magn Reson Med 2019; 82:796-810. [PMID: 30924181 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE A 16-channel receive (16Rx) radiofrequency (RF) array for 7T ultra-high field body MR imaging is presented. The coil is evaluated in conjunction with a 16-channel transmit/receive (16TxRx) coil and additionally with a 32-channel transmit/receive (32TxRx) remote body coil for RF transmit and serving as receive references. METHODS The 16Rx array consists of 16 octagonal overlapping loops connected to custom-built detuning boards with preamplifiers. Performance metrics like noise correlation, g-factors, and signal-to-noise ratio gain were compared between 4 different RF coil configurations. In vivo body imaging was performed in volunteers using radiofrequency shimming, time interleaved acquisition of modes (TIAMO), and 2D spatially selective excitation using parallel transmit (pTx) in the spine. RESULTS Lower g-factors were obtained when using the 16Rx coil in addition to the 16TxRx array coil configuration versus the 16TxRx array alone. Distinct signal-to-noise ratio gain using the 16Rx coil could be demonstrated in the spine region both for a comparison with the 16TxRx coil (>50% gain) in vivo and the 32TxRx coil (>240% gain) in a phantom. The 16Rx coil was successfully applied to improve anatomical imaging in the abdomen and 2D spatially selective excitation in the spine of volunteers. CONCLUSION The novel 16-channel Rx-array as an add-on to multichannel TxRx RF coil configurations provides increased signal-to-noise ratio, lower g-factors, and thus improves 7T ultra-high field body MR imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan H G Rietsch
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunheim
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stephan Orzada
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Maximilian N Voelker
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefan Maderwald
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas K Bitz
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Electromagnetic Theory and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Marcel Gratz
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Physics and Astronomy and Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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79
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Meliadò EF, van den Berg CAT, Luijten PR, Raaijmakers AJE. Intersubject specific absorption rate variability analysis through construction of 23 realistic body models for prostate imaging at 7T. Magn Reson Med 2018; 81:2106-2119. [PMID: 30414210 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE For ultrahigh field (UHF) MRI, the expected local specific absorption rate (SAR) distribution is usually calculated by numerical simulations using a limited number of generic body models and adding a safety margin to take into account intersubject variability. Assessment of this variability with a large model database would be desirable. In this study, a procedure to create such a database with accurate subject-specific models is presented. Using 23 models, intersubject variability is investigated for prostate imaging at 7T with an 8-channel fractionated dipole antenna array with 16 receive loops. METHOD From Dixon images of a volunteer acquired at 1.5T with a mockup array in place, an accurate dielectric model is built. Following this procedure, 23 subject-specific models for local SAR assessment at 7T were created enabling an extensive analysis of the intersubject B1 + and peak local SAR variability. RESULTS For the investigated setup, the maximum possible peak local SAR ranges from 2.6 to 4.6 W/kg for 8 × 1 W input power. The expected peak local SAR values represent a Gaussian distribution ( μ / σ = 2.29 / 0.29 W/kg) with realistic prostate-shimmed phase settings and a gamma distribution Γ(24,0.09) with multidimensional radiofrequency pulses. Prostate-shimmed phase settings are similar for all models. Using 1 generic phase setting, average B1 + reduction is 7%. Using only 1 model, the required safety margin for intersubject variability is 1.6 to 1.8. CONCLUSION The presented procedure allows for the creation of a customized model database. The results provide valuable insights into B1 + and local SAR variability. Recommended power thresholds per channel are 3.1 W with phase shimming on prostate or 2.6 W for multidimensional pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ettore F Meliadò
- Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,MR Code BV, Zaltbommel, The Netherlands
| | | | - Peter R Luijten
- Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander J E Raaijmakers
- Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Biomedical Image Analysis, Department Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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80
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Frass-Kriegl R, Navarro de Lara LI, Pichler M, Sieg J, Moser E, Windischberger C, Laistler E. Flexible 23-channel coil array for high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging at 3 Tesla. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206963. [PMID: 30383832 PMCID: PMC6211745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this work is the design, implementation and evaluation of a mechanically flexible receive-only coil array for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 T that can be applied to various target organs and provides high parallel imaging performance. METHODS A 23-channel array was designed based on a rigid-flex printed circuit board (PCB). The flexible multi-layer part contains the copper traces forming the coil elements. The rigid part of the PCB houses the solder joints and lumped elements. The coil housing consists of rigid caps mounted above the rigid parts. Adhesive PTFE sheets cover all flexible parts. The developed array was tested on the bench as well as in phantom and in vivo MRI experiments employing parallel imaging acceleration factors up to six. RESULTS Efficient mutual decoupling between receive elements and detuning between receive array and body coil was achieved. An increased signal-to-noise ratio in comparison to commercial reference coils is demonstrated, especially in regions close to the developed array and for high parallel imaging acceleration factors. Exemplary in vivo images of head, ankle, knee, shoulder and hand are presented. CONCLUSION Based on high sensitivity close to the array and low g-factors, this flexible coil is well suited for studies of occipital and temporal cortex, as well as musculoskeletal targets like knee, ankle, elbow and wrist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Frass-Kriegl
- Division MR Physics, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lucia Isabel Navarro de Lara
- Division MR Physics, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Pichler
- Division MR Physics, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen Sieg
- Division MR Physics, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ewald Moser
- Division MR Physics, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Windischberger
- Division MR Physics, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elmar Laistler
- Division MR Physics, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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81
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Clément JD, Gruetter R, Ipek Ö. A human cerebral and cerebellar 8‐channel transceive RF dipole coil array at 7T. Magn Reson Med 2018; 81:1447-1458. [PMID: 30226637 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 06/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Dipole antennas that provide high transmit field penetration with large coverage, and their use in a parallel transmit setup, may be advantageous in minimizing B 1 + -field inhomogeneities at ultra-high field, i.e 7T. We have developed and evaluated an 8-channel RF dipole coil array for imaging the entire cerebral and cerebellar regions in man. METHODS A coil array was modeled with seven dipoles: six placed covering the occipital and temporal lobes; one covering the parietal lobe; and two loops covering the frontal lobe. Center-shortened and fractionated dipoles were simulated for the array configuration and assessed with respect to B 1 + -field at maximum specific absorption rate averaged over 10 g tissue regions in human brain. The whole-brain center-shortened dipoles with frontal loops coil array was constructed and its transmit properties were assessed with respect to MR images, B 1 + -field, and homogeneity. RESULTS In simulations, the dipole arrays showed comparable performances to cover the whole-brain. However, for ease of construction, the center-shortened dipole was favored. High spatial resolution anatomical images of the human brain with the coil array demonstrated a full coverage of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. CONCLUSIONS The 8-channel center-shortened dipoles and frontal loops coil array promises remarkable efficiency in highly challenging regions as the cerebellum, and phase-only RF shimming of whole-brain could greatly benefit ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging of the human brain at 7T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémie D. Clément
- LIFMET Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Geneva Switzerland
| | - Rolf Gruetter
- LIFMET Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Geneva Switzerland
- Department of Radiology University of Geneva Geneva Switzerland
- Department of Radiology University of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland
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82
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Solomakha G, Leeuwen CV, Raaijmakers A, Simovski C, Popugaev A, Abdeddaim R, Melchakova I, Glybovski S. The dual‐mode dipole: A new array element for 7T body imaging with reduced SAR. Magn Reson Med 2018; 81:1459-1469. [PMID: 30226636 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
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. Numerical simulations of the dual-mode dipole in the presence of a homogeneous phantom were performed. Moreover, an array of such coils was simulated with a voxel body model. For comparison, a fractionated dipole combined with a surface loop coil was also simulated. Both coils were tested in a 7 Tesla MRI system on a phantom. Subsequently four dual-mode dipoles or dipole/loop combinations were used for a comparison of imaging performance in a human volunteer. RESULTS Using the even mode of the dual-mode dipole showed 70% SAR reduction in comparison to the fractionated dipole while having the same B 1 + in the prostate region. The odd mode of the dual-mode dipole showed a performance comparable to the surface loop both for SAR and B1 efficiency. The obtained results showed that the proposed coil while creating lower SAR gave images of the same quality as the reference coil. CONCLUSIONS It was demonstrated that the array of dual-mode dipoles provided the same SNR and prostate imaging quality as the reference array, while demonstrating lower SAR. This is due to a smoother current distribution over a sample surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgiy Solomakha
- Department of Nanophotonics and Metamaterials ITMO University Saint Petersburg Russian Federation
| | - Carel van Leeuwen
- Department of Radiology University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Raaijmakers
- Department of Radiology University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Constantin Simovski
- Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering Aalto University, School of Electrical Engineering Espoo Finland
| | - Alexander Popugaev
- RF and SatCom Systems Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS Erlangen Germany
| | - Redha Abdeddaim
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel Marseille France
| | - Irina Melchakova
- Department of Nanophotonics and Metamaterials ITMO University Saint Petersburg Russian Federation
| | - Stanislav Glybovski
- Department of Nanophotonics and Metamaterials ITMO University Saint Petersburg Russian Federation
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83
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Steensma BR, Voogt I, van der Werf AJ, van den Berg CA, Luijten PR, Klomp DW, Raaijmakers AJ. Design of a forward view antenna for prostate imaging at 7 T. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2018; 31:e3993. [PMID: 30022543 PMCID: PMC6175442 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.3993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To design a forward view antenna for prostate imaging at 7 T, which is placed between the legs of the subject in addition to a dipole array. MATERIALS AND METHODS The forward view antenna is realized by placing a cross-dipole antenna at the end of a small rectangular waveguide. Quadrature drive of the cross-dipole can excite a circularly polarized wave propagating along the axial direction to and from the prostate region. Functioning of the forward view antenna is validated by comparing measurements and simulations. Antenna performance is evaluated by numerical simulations and measurements at 7 T. RESULTS Simulations of B1+ on a phantom are in good correspondence with measurements. Simulations on a human model indicate that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), specific absorption rate (SAR) efficiency and SAR increase when adding the forward view antenna to a previously published dipole array. The SNR increases by up to 18% when adding the forward view antenna as a receive antenna to an eight-channel dipole array in vivo. CONCLUSIONS A design for a forward view antenna is presented and evaluated. SNR improvements up to 18% are demonstrated when adding the forward view antenna to a dipole array.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ingmar Voogt
- University Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
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84
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Yan X, Gore JC, Grissom WA. Self-decoupled radiofrequency coils for magnetic resonance imaging. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3481. [PMID: 30154408 PMCID: PMC6113296 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05585-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Arrays of radiofrequency coils are widely used in magnetic resonance imaging to achieve high signal-to-noise ratios and flexible volume coverage, to accelerate scans using parallel reception, and to mitigate field non-uniformity using parallel transmission. However, conventional coil arrays require complex decoupling technologies to reduce electromagnetic coupling between coil elements, which would otherwise amplify noise and limit transmitted power. Here we report a novel self-decoupled RF coil design with a simple structure that requires only an intentional redistribution of electrical impedances around the length of the coil loop. We show that self-decoupled coils achieve high inter-coil isolation between adjacent and non-adjacent elements of loop arrays and mixed arrays of loops and dipoles. Self-decoupled coils are also robust to coil separation, making them attractive for size-adjustable and flexible coil arrays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinqiang Yan
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
| | - John C Gore
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - William A Grissom
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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85
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Bernstein DE, Bernstein BS. Urological technology: where will we be in 20 years' time? Ther Adv Urol 2018; 10:235-242. [PMID: 30034542 PMCID: PMC6048627 DOI: 10.1177/1756287218782666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Since prehistoric times, our understanding of urology has rapidly expanded. Whilst primitive urologists began by using urine as a therapeutic substance, modern urologists may find themselves removing a kidney remotely by driving a robotic arm, with seven degrees of movement, while using image overlay-augmented reality. This review provides an insight into the potential status of urological technology in 20 years' time, assessed through an analysis of developments in imaging, diagnostics, robotics and further technologies. A particular emphasis is given to the promising fields of minimally invasive techniques, nanotechnology and tissue engineering, which likely hold the key to a new era for urology.
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86
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Chacon-Caldera J, Fischer A, Malzacher M, Vetter Y, Davids M, Flöser M, Stumpf C, Schad LR. Evaluation of stacked resonators to enhance the performance of a surface receive-only array for prostate MRI at 3 Tesla. Magn Reson Imaging 2018; 53:164-172. [PMID: 30053430 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Prostate MRI is an important tool to diagnose and characterize cancer. High local sensitivity and good parallel imaging performance are of paramount importance for diagnostic quality and efficiency. The purpose of this work was to evaluate stacked resonators as part of a surface receiver array for prostate MRI at 3 Tesla. A base array of 6-channels consisting of a flexible anterior and a rigid posterior part were built each with three loop coils. A pair of stacked resonators was added concentrically to the center loops (anterior and posterior) of the base array. The evaluated stacked resonators were butterflies, composites and dipoles which yielded a total of three 8-channel arrays. The arrays were compared using noise correlations and single-channel signal-to-noise ratio maps in a phantom. Combined signal-to-noise ratio maps and parallel imaging performances were measured and compared in vivo in 6 healthy volunteers. The results were compared to the base and a commercial array. The SNR values in the prostate yielded by all the arrays were not statistically different using fully sampled k-space. However, significant differences were found in the parallel imaging performance of the arrays. More specifically, up to 88% geometric factor reduction was found compared to the commercial array and up to 83% reduction compared to the base array using butterfly coils. Thus, signal-to-noise ratio improvements were observed with stacked resonators when using parallel imaging. The use of stacked elements, in particular butterfly coils, can improve the performance of a base array consisting solely of single loops when using parallel imaging. We expect prostate MRI at 3 Tesla to benefit from using combinations of single loops and stacked resonators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Chacon-Caldera
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Alexander Fischer
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Matthias Malzacher
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Yannik Vetter
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Mathias Davids
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martina Flöser
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Lothar R Schad
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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87
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Gao Y, Chen W, Zhang X. Investigating the Influence of Spatial Constraints on Ultimate Receive Coil Performance for Monkey Brain MRI at 7 T. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2018; 37:1723-1732. [PMID: 29969422 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2018.2812151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The RF receive coil array has become increasingly vital in current MR imaging practice due to its extended spatial coverage, maintained high SNR, and improved capability of accelerating data acquisition. The performance of a coil array is intrinsically determined by the current patterns generated in coil elements as well as by the induced electromagnetic fields inside the object. Investigations of the ultimate performance constrained by a specific coil space, which defines all possible current patterns flowing within, offer the opportunity to evaluate coil-space parameters (i.e., coverage, coil-to-object distance, layer thickness, and coil element type) without the necessity of considering the realistic coil element geometry, coil elements layout, and number of receive channels in modeling. In this paper, to mimic 7-T monkey RF head coil design, seven hypothetical ultimate coil arrays with different coil-space configurations were mounted over a numerical macaque head model; by using Huygens's surface approximation method, the influences of coil-space design parameters were systematically investigated through evaluating the spatial constrained ultimate intrinsic SNR and ultimate g-factor. Moreover, simulations were also conducted by using four coil arrays with limited number of loop-only elements, in order to explore to what extent the ultimate coil performance can be achieved by using practical coil designs, and hence several guidelines in RF coil design for monkey brain imaging at 7 T have been tentatively concluded. It is believed that the present analysis will offer important implications in novel receive array design for monkey brain MR imaging at ultra-high field.
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88
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Garwood M, Uğurbil K. RF pulse methods for use with surface coils: Frequency-modulated pulses and parallel transmission. JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE (SAN DIEGO, CALIF. : 1997) 2018; 291:84-93. [PMID: 29705035 PMCID: PMC5943143 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2018.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The first use of a surface coil to obtain a 31P NMR spectrum from an intact rat by Ackerman and colleagues initiated a revolution in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS). Today, we take it for granted that one can detect signals in regions external to an RF coil; at the time, however, this concept was most unusual. In the approximately four decade long period since its introduction, this simple idea gave birth to an increasing number of innovations that has led to transformative changes in the way we collect data in an in vivo magnetic resonance experiment, particularly with MRI of humans. These innovations include spatial localization and/or encoding based on the non-uniform B1 field generated by the surface coil, leading to new spectroscopic localization methods, image acceleration, and unique RF pulses that deal with B1 inhomogeneities and even reduce power deposition. Without the surface coil, many of the major technological advances that define the extraordinary success of MRI in clinical diagnosis and in biomedical research, as exemplified by projects like the Human Connectome Project, would not have been possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Garwood
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research and Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA.
| | - Kamil Uğurbil
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research and Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
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89
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Rietsch SHG, Orzada S, Maderwald S, Brunheim S, Philips BWJ, Scheenen TWJ, Ladd ME, Quick HH. 7T ultra-high field body MR imaging with an 8-channel transmit/32-channel receive radiofrequency coil array. Med Phys 2018; 45:2978-2990. [PMID: 29679498 DOI: 10.1002/mp.12931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE In this work, a combined body coil array with eight transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) meander elements and with 24 receive-only (Rx) loops (8Tx/32Rx) was developed and evaluated in comparison with an 8-channel transmit/receive body array (8Tx/Rx) based on meander elements serving as the reference standard. METHODS Systematic evaluation of the RF array was performed on a body-sized phantom. Body imaging at 7T was performed in six volunteers in the body regions pelvis, abdomen, and heart. Coil characteristics such as signal-to-noise ratio, acceleration capability, g-factors, S-parameters, noise correlation, and B1+ maps were assessed. Safety was ensured by numerical simulations using a coil model validated by dosimetric field measurements. RESULTS Meander elements and loops are intrinsically well decoupled with a maximum coupling value of -20.5 dB. Safe use of the 8Tx/32Rx array could be demonstrated. High gain in signal-to-noise ratio (33% in the subject's center) could be shown for the 8Tx/32Rx array compared to the 8Tx/Rx array. Improvement in acceleration capability in all investigations could be demonstrated. For example, the 8Tx/32Rx array provides lower g-factors in the right-left and anterior-posterior directions with R = 3 undersampling as compared to the 8Tx/Rx array using R = 2. Both arrays are very similar regarding their RF transmit performance. Excellent image quality in the investigated body regions could be achieved with the 8Tx/32Rx array. CONCLUSION In this work, we show that a combination of eight meander elements and 24 loop receive elements is possible without impeding transmit performance. Improved SNR and g-factor performance compared to an RF array without these loops is demonstrated. Body MRI at 7T with the 8Tx/32Rx array could be accomplished in the heart, abdomen, and pelvis with excellent image quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan H G Rietsch
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany.,High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Stephan Orzada
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefan Maderwald
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunheim
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany.,High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Bart W J Philips
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Center, Radboud University, 6525GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tom W J Scheenen
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Center, Radboud University, 6525GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany.,Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Physics and Astronomy and Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany.,High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
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90
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Brunheim S, Gratz M, Johst S, Bitz AK, Fiedler TM, Ladd ME, Quick HH, Orzada S. Fast and accurate multi-channel B1+ mapping based on the TIAMO technique for 7T UHF body MRI. Magn Reson Med 2018; 79:2652-2664. [PMID: 28994132 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.26925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Current methods for mitigation of transmit field B1+ inhomogeneities at ultrahigh field (UHF) MRI by multi-channel radiofrequency (RF) shimming rely on accurate B1+ mapping. This can be time consuming when many RF channels have to be mapped for in vivo body MRI, where the B1 maps should ideally be acquired within a single breath-hold. Therefore, a new B1+ mapping technique (B1TIAMO) is proposed. METHODS The performance of this technique is validated against an established method (DREAM) in phantom measurements for a cylindrical head phantom with an 8-channel transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) array. Furthermore, measurements for a 32-channel Tx/Rx remote array are conducted in a large body phantom and the |B1+| map reliability is validated against simulations of the transmit RF field distribution. Finally, in vivo results of this new mapping technique for human abdomen are presented. RESULTS For the head phantom (8-channel Tx/Rx coil), the single |B1+| comparison between B1 TIAMO, the direct DREAM measurements, and simulation data showed good agreement with 10-19% difference. For the large body phantom (32-channel Tx/Rx coil), B1TIAMO matched the RF field simulations well. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate the potential to acquire 32 accurate single-channel B1+ maps for large field-of-view body imaging within only a single breath-hold of 16 s at 7T UHF MRI. Magn Reson Med 79:2652-2664, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Brunheim
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Marcel Gratz
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sören Johst
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas K Bitz
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Electromagnetic Theory and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, FH Aachen-University of Applied Sciences, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas M Fiedler
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stephan Orzada
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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91
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Uğurbil K. Imaging at ultrahigh magnetic fields: History, challenges, and solutions. Neuroimage 2018; 168:7-32. [PMID: 28698108 PMCID: PMC5758441 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Following early efforts in applying nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study biological processes in intact systems, and particularly since the introduction of 4 T human scanners circa 1990, rapid progress was made in imaging and spectroscopy studies of humans at 4 T and animal models at 9.4 T, leading to the introduction of 7 T and higher magnetic fields for human investigation at about the turn of the century. Work conducted on these platforms has provided numerous technological solutions to challenges posed at these ultrahigh fields, and demonstrated the existence of significant advantages in signal-to-noise ratio and biological information content. Primary difference from lower fields is the deviation from the near field regime at the radiofrequencies (RF) corresponding to hydrogen resonance conditions. At such ultrahigh fields, the RF is characterized by attenuated traveling waves in the human body, which leads to image non-uniformities for a given sample-coil configuration because of destructive and constructive interferences. These non-uniformities were initially considered detrimental to progress of imaging at high field strengths. However, they are advantageous for parallel imaging in signal reception and transmission, two critical technologies that account, to a large extend, for the success of ultrahigh fields. With these technologies and improvements in instrumentation and imaging methods, today ultrahigh fields have provided unprecedented gains in imaging of brain function and anatomy, and started to make inroads into investigation of the human torso and extremities. As extensive as they are, these gains still constitute a prelude to what is to come given the increasingly larger effort committed to ultrahigh field research and development of ever better instrumentation and techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Uğurbil
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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92
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Avdievich NI, Giapitzakis IA, Pfrommer A, Borbath T, Henning A. Combination of surface and 'vertical' loop elements improves receive performance of a human head transceiver array at 9.4 T. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2018; 31:e3878. [PMID: 29244225 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.3878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ultra-high-field (UHF, ≥7 T) human magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides undisputed advantages over low-field MRI (≤3 T), but its development remains challenging because of numerous technical issues, including the low efficiency of transmit (Tx) radiofrequency (RF) coils caused by the increase in tissue power deposition with frequency. Tight-fit human head transceiver (TxRx) arrays improve Tx efficiency in comparison with Tx-only arrays, which are larger in order to fit multi-channel receive (Rx)-only arrays inside. A drawback of the TxRx design is that the number of elements in an array is limited by the number of available high-power RF Tx channels (commonly 8 or 16), which is not sufficient for optimal Rx performance. In this work, as a proof of concept, we developed a method for increasing the number of Rx elements in a human head TxRx surface loop array without the need to move the loops away from a sample, which compromises the array Tx performance. We designed and constructed a prototype 16-channel tight-fit array, which consists of eight TxRx surface loops placed on a cylindrical holder circumscribing a head, and eight Rx-only vertical loops positioned along the central axis (parallel to the magnetic field B0 ) of each TxRx loop, perpendicular to its surface. We demonstrated both experimentally and numerically that the addition of the vertical loops has no measurable effect on the Tx efficiency of the array. An increase in the maximum local specific absorption rate (SAR), evaluated using two human head voxel models (Duke and Ella), measured 3.4% or less. At the same time, the 16-element array provided 30% improvement of central signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in vivo relative to a surface loop eight-element array. The novel array design also demonstrated an improvement in the parallel Rx performance in the transversal plane. Thus, using this method, both the Rx and Tx performance of the human head array can be optimized simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- N I Avdievich
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Institute of Physics, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - I A Giapitzakis
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Graduate School of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Tübingen, Germany
| | - A Pfrommer
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - T Borbath
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - A Henning
- High-Field MR Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Institute of Physics, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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93
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Alon L, Lattanzi R, Lakshmanan K, Brown R, Deniz CM, Sodickson DK, Collins CM. Transverse slot antennas for high field MRI. Magn Reson Med 2018; 80:1233-1242. [PMID: 29388250 PMCID: PMC5985532 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Introduce a novel coil design using an electrically long transversely oriented slot in a conductive sheet. Theory and Methods Theoretical considerations, numerical simulations, and experimental measurements are presented for transverse slot antennas as compared with electric dipole antennas. Results Simulations show improved central and average transmit and receive efficiency, as well as larger coverage in the transverse plane, for a single slot as compared to a single dipole element. Experiments on a body phantom confirm the simulation results for a slot antenna relative to a dipole, demonstrating a large region of relatively high sensitivity and homogeneity. Images in a human subject also show a large imaging volume for a single slot and six slot antenna array. High central transmit efficiency was observed for slot arrays relative to dipole arrays. Conclusion Transverse slots can exhibit improved sensitivity and larger field of view compared with traditional conductive dipoles. Simulations and experiments indicate high potential for slot antennas in high field MRI. Magn Reson Med 80:1233–1242, 2018. © 2018 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leeor Alon
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), and the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,NYU WIRELESS, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, USA.,RF Test Labs, Inc., New York, New York, USA
| | - Riccardo Lattanzi
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), and the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,NYU WIRELESS, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Karthik Lakshmanan
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), and the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,NYU WIRELESS, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Ryan Brown
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), and the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,NYU WIRELESS, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Cem M Deniz
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), and the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,NYU WIRELESS, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, USA.,RF Test Labs, Inc., New York, New York, USA
| | - Daniel K Sodickson
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), and the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,NYU WIRELESS, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Christopher M Collins
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), and the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,NYU WIRELESS, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, USA
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94
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Li X, Auerbach EJ, Van de Moortele PF, Ugurbil K, Metzger GJ. Quantitative single breath-hold renal arterial spin labeling imaging at 7T. Magn Reson Med 2018; 79:815-825. [PMID: 28488274 PMCID: PMC5680158 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.26742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the feasibility of quantitative single breath-hold renal arterial spin labeling (ASL) imaging at 7T. METHODS A single-shot fast spin echo FAIR (flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery) method was used to perform two studies. First, a multi-delay perfusion study was performed to estimate the spin labeling temporal bolus width achievable with a local transceiver array coil at 7T. Second, with a conservatively defined bolus width, a quantitative perfusion study was performed using the single subtraction approach. To address issues of B1+ inhomogeneity/efficiency and excessive short-term specific absorption rates, various strategies were used, such as dynamic radiofrequency shimming and optimization. RESULTS A conservative temporal bolus width of 600 ms determined from the multi-delay study was applied for single-subtraction imaging to measure the renal blood flow in the cortex and medulla: 303 ± 31.8 and 91.3 ± 15.2 (mL/100 g/min), respectively. The estimated spatial and temporal signal-to-noise ratios of renal perfusion measurements were 3.8 ± 0.7 and 2.4 ± 0.6 for the cortex, and 2.2 ± 0.6 and 1.4 ± 0.2 for the medulla. CONCLUSION With proper management of field strength specific challenges, quantitative renal ASL imaging can be achieved at 7T within a single breath-hold. Magn Reson Med 79:815-825, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufeng Li
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | - Edward J. Auerbach
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | | | - Kamil Ugurbil
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | - Gregory J. Metzger
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
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95
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Herrmann T, Liebig T, Mallow J, Bruns C, Stadler J, Mylius J, Brosch M, Svedja JT, Chen Z, Rennings A, Scheich H, Plaumann M, Hauser MJB, Bernarding J, Erni D. Metamaterial-based transmit and receive system for whole-body magnetic resonance imaging at ultra-high magnetic fields. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191719. [PMID: 29370245 PMCID: PMC5784978 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ultra-high fields (UHF), such as 7 T, provides an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio and has led to unprecedented high-resolution anatomic images and brain activation maps. Although a variety of radio frequency (RF) coil architectures have been developed for imaging at UHF conditions, they usually are specialized for small volumes of interests (VoI). So far, whole-body coil resonators are not available for commercial UHF human whole-body MRI systems. The goal of the present study was the development and validation of a transmit and receive system for large VoIs that operates at a 7 T human whole-body MRI system. A Metamaterial Ring Antenna System (MRAS) consisting of several ring antennas was developed, since it allows for the imaging of extended VoIs. Furthermore, the MRAS not only requires lower intensities of the irradiated RF energy, but also provides a more confined and focused injection of excitation energy on selected body parts. The MRAS consisted of several antennas with 50 cm inner diameter, 10 cm width and 0.5 cm depth. The position of the rings was freely adjustable. Conformal resonant right-/left-handed metamaterial was used for each ring antenna with two quadrature feeding ports for RF power. The system was successfully implemented and demonstrated with both a silicone oil and a water-NaCl-isopropanol phantom as well as in vivo by acquiring whole-body images of a crab-eating macaque. The potential for future neuroimaging applications was demonstrated by the acquired high-resolution anatomic images of the macaque's head. Phantom and in vivo measurements of crab-eating macaques provided high-resolution images with large VoIs up to 40 cm in xy-direction and 45 cm in z-direction. The results of this work demonstrate the feasibility of the MRAS system for UHF MRI as proof of principle. The MRAS shows a substantial potential for MR imaging of larger volumes at 7 T UHF. This new technique may provide new diagnostic potential in spatially extended pathologies such as searching for spread-out tumor metastases or monitoring systemic inflammatory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Herrmann
- Institute of Biometrics and Medical Informatics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Liebig
- General and Theoretical Electrical Engineering (ATE), University of Duisburg-Essen, and CENIDE-Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Mallow
- Institute of Biometrics and Medical Informatics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Christian Bruns
- Institute of Biometrics and Medical Informatics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Stadler
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Judith Mylius
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Michael Brosch
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN), Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jan Taro Svedja
- General and Theoretical Electrical Engineering (ATE), University of Duisburg-Essen, and CENIDE-Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Zhichao Chen
- General and Theoretical Electrical Engineering (ATE), University of Duisburg-Essen, and CENIDE-Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Rennings
- General and Theoretical Electrical Engineering (ATE), University of Duisburg-Essen, and CENIDE-Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Henning Scheich
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN), Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Markus Plaumann
- Institute of Biometrics and Medical Informatics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Marcus J B Hauser
- Institute of Biometrics and Medical Informatics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Bernarding
- Institute of Biometrics and Medical Informatics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Erni
- General and Theoretical Electrical Engineering (ATE), University of Duisburg-Essen, and CENIDE-Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
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96
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Paška J, Cloos MA, Wiggins GC. A rigid, stand-off hybrid dipole, and birdcage coil array for 7 T body imaging. Magn Reson Med 2017; 80:822-832. [PMID: 29250833 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To design a robust and patient friendly radiofrequency coil array (8-channel transmit and 16-channel receive) for cross-sectional body imaging at 7 T, and to improve our understanding of the combination of dipole and loop like elements for ultra high field strengths. METHODS The hybrid coil array was optimized in eletromagnetic simulations. Considered array candidates were the dipole, loop and birdcage array. The winning design was constructed and the signal-to-noise (SNR) was compared to a close fitting array at 3 T. Transmit and receive properties for different body sizes were assessed, and multi-parametric maps were acquired with the Plug-and-Play MRF method. RESULTS The winning design consists of a dipole array for transceive combined with a birdcage array for receive only. The central SNR improved by a factor of 3 as compared to a 3 T system with a local receive array. A transmit efficiency between 2.4 and 3.9 μT/kW, a specific absorption rate efficiency of 0.25 to 0.53 μT/W/kg, and a high SNR was achieved in the center for the targeted patient population. CONCLUSION The constructed coil array is easy to handle, safe, and patient friendly, allowing further development of abdominal imaging at 7 T. Quantitative MRI in the abdomen is possible with Plug-and-Play MRF using the designed coil array. Magn Reson Med 80:822-832, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Paška
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Martijn A Cloos
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Graham C Wiggins
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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97
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Kording F, Ruprecht C, Schoennagel B, Fehrs K, Yamamura J, Adam G, Goebel J, Nassenstein K, Maderwald S, Quick H, Kraff O. Doppler ultrasound triggering for cardiac MRI at 7T. Magn Reson Med 2017; 80:239-247. [DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Kording
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Hamburg Germany
| | - C. Ruprecht
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Hamburg Germany
| | - B. Schoennagel
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Hamburg Germany
| | - K. Fehrs
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Hamburg Germany
| | - J. Yamamura
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Hamburg Germany
| | - G. Adam
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Hamburg Germany
| | - J. Goebel
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging; University Duisburg-Essen; Essen Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology; University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen; Essen Germany
| | - K. Nassenstein
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology; University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen; Essen Germany
| | - S. Maderwald
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging; University Duisburg-Essen; Essen Germany
| | - H.H. Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging; University Duisburg-Essen; Essen Germany
- High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging; University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen; Essen Germany
| | - O. Kraff
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging; University Duisburg-Essen; Essen Germany
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98
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An 8-channel Tx/Rx dipole array combined with 16 Rx loops for high-resolution functional cardiac imaging at 7 T. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2017; 31:7-18. [PMID: 29177772 PMCID: PMC5813068 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-017-0665-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 09/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Objective To demonstrate imaging performance for cardiac MR imaging at 7 T using a coil array of 8 transmit/receive dipole antennas and 16 receive loops. Materials and methods An 8-channel dipole array was extended by adding 16 receive-only loops. Average power constraints were determined by electromagnetic simulations. Cine imaging was performed on eight healthy subjects. Geometrical factor (g-factor) maps were calculated to assess acceleration performance. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-scaled images were reconstructed for different combinations of receive channels, to demonstrate the SNR benefits of combining loops and dipoles. Results The overall image quality of the cardiac functional images was rated a 2.6 on a 4-point scale by two experienced radiologists. Imaging results at different acceleration factors demonstrate that acceleration factors up to 6 could be obtained while keeping the average g-factor below 1.27. SNR maps demonstrate that combining loops and dipoles provides a more than 50% enhancement of the SNR in the heart, compared to a situation where only loops or dipoles are used. Conclusion This work demonstrates the performance of a combined loop/dipole array for cardiac imaging at 7 T. With this array, acceleration factors of 6 are possible without increasing the average g-factor in the heart beyond 1.27. Combining loops and dipoles in receive mode enhances the SNR compared to receiving with loops or dipoles only. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10334-017-0665-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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99
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Rietsch SHG, Pfaffenrot V, Bitz AK, Orzada S, Brunheim S, Lazik-Palm A, Theysohn JM, Ladd ME, Quick HH, Kraff O. An 8-channel transceiver 7-channel receive RF coil setup for high SNR ultrahigh-field MRI of the shoulder at 7T. Med Phys 2017; 44:6195-6208. [PMID: 28976586 DOI: 10.1002/mp.12612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE In this work, we present an 8-channel transceiver (Tx/Rx) 7-channel receive (Rx) radiofrequency (RF) coil setup for 7 T ultrahigh-field MR imaging of the shoulder. METHODS A C-shaped 8-channel Tx/Rx coil was combined with an anatomically close-fitting 7-channel Rx-only coil. The safety and performance parameters of this coil setup were evaluated on the bench and in phantom experiments. The 7 T MR imaging performance of the shoulder RF coil setup was evaluated in in vivo measurements using a 3D DESS, a 2D PD-weighted TSE sequence, and safety supervision based on virtual observation points. RESULTS Distinct SNR gain and acceleration capabilities provided by the additional 7-channel Rx-only coil were demonstrated in phantom and in vivo measurements. The power efficiency indicated good performance of each channel and a maximum B1+ of 19 μT if the hardware RF power limits of the MR system were exploited. MR imaging of the shoulder was demonstrated with clinically excellent image quality and submillimeter spatial resolution. CONCLUSIONS The presented 8-channel transceiver 7-channel receive RF coil setup was successfully applied for in vivo 7 T MRI of the shoulder providing a clear SNR gain vs the transceiver array without the additional receive array. Homogeneous images across the shoulder region were obtained using 8-channel subject-specific phase-only RF shimming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan H G Rietsch
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, 45141, Germany.,High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, 45147, Germany
| | - Viktor Pfaffenrot
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, 45141, Germany.,High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, 45147, Germany
| | - Andreas K Bitz
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Electromagnetic Theory and Applied Mathematics, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stephan Orzada
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, 45141, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunheim
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, 45141, Germany.,High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, 45147, Germany
| | - Andrea Lazik-Palm
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, 45147, Germany
| | - Jens M Theysohn
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, 45147, Germany
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, 45141, Germany.,Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, 45141, Germany.,High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, 45147, Germany
| | - Oliver Kraff
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MR Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, 45141, Germany
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100
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Konishi T, Funayama N, Yamamoto T, Morita T, Hotta D, Nomura R, Nakagaki Y, Murahashi T, Kamiyama K, Yoshimoto T, Aoki T, Nishihara H, Tanaka S. Pathological Quantification of Carotid Artery Plaque Instability in Patients Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy. Circ J 2017; 82:258-266. [PMID: 28757518 DOI: 10.1253/circj.cj-17-0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unstable atherosclerotic carotid plaques cause cerebral thromboemboli and ischemic events. However, this instability has not been pathologically quantified, so we sought to quantify it in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA).Methods and Results:Carotid plaques were collected during CEA from 67 symptomatic and 15 asymptomatic patients between May 2015 and August 2016. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and elastica-Masson. Immunohistochemistry was performed using an endothelial-specific antibody to CD31, CD34 and PDGFRβ. The histopathological characteristics of the plaques were studied. By multiple-variable logistic regression analysis, plaque instability correlated with the presence of plaque rupture [odds ratio (OR), 9.75; P=0.013], minimum fibrous cap thickness (OR per 10 μm 0.70; P=0.025), presence of microcalcifications in the fibrous cap (OR 7.82; P=0.022) and intraplaque microvessels (OR 1.91; P=0.043). Receiver-operating characteristics analyses showed that these factors combined into a single score diagnosed symptomatic carotid plaques in patients with carotid artery stenosis with a high level of accuracy (area under the curve 0.92; 95% confidence interval 0.85-0.99 vs. asymptomatic). CONCLUSIONS This analysis of carotid plaque instability strongly suggested that the diagnostic scoring of carotid plaque instability improves the understanding and treatment of carotid artery disease in patients undergoing CEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takao Konishi
- Department of Cardiology, Hokkaido Cardiovascular Hospital.,Department of Cancer Pathology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine
| | | | | | - Tohru Morita
- Department of Cardiology, Hokkaido Cardiovascular Hospital
| | - Daisuke Hotta
- Department of Cardiology, Hokkaido Cardiovascular Hospital
| | - Ryota Nomura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nakamura Memorial Hospital
| | | | | | | | | | - Takeshi Aoki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hokkaido Neurosurgical Memorial Hospital
| | - Hiroshi Nishihara
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine
| | - Shinya Tanaka
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine
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