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Petzold J, Schmitter S, Silemek B, Winter L, Speck O, Ittermann B, Seifert F. Investigation of alternative RF power limit control methods for 0.5T, 1.5T, and 3T parallel transmission cardiac imaging: A simulation study. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:1659-1675. [PMID: 38031517 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate safety and performance aspects of parallel-transmit (pTx) RF control-modes for a body coil atB 0 ≤ 3 T $$ {B}_0\le 3\mathrm{T} $$ . METHODS Electromagnetic simulations of 11 human voxel models in cardiac imaging position were conducted forB 0 = 0.5 T $$ {B}_0=0.5\mathrm{T} $$ ,1.5 T $$ 1.5\mathrm{T} $$ and3 T $$ 3\mathrm{T} $$ and a body coil with a configurable number of transmit channels (1, 2, 4, 8, 16). Three safety modes were considered: the 'SAR-controlled mode' (SCM), where specific absorption rate (SAR) is limited directly, a 'phase agnostic SAR-controlled mode' (PASCM), where phase information is neglected, and a 'power-controlled mode' (PCM), where the voltage amplitude for each channel is limited. For either mode, safety limits were established based on a set of 'anchor' simulations and then evaluated in 'target' simulations on previously unseen models. The comparison allowed to derive safety factors accounting for varying patient anatomies. All control modes were compared in terms of theB 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ amplitude and homogeneity they permit under their respective safety requirements. RESULTS Large safety factors (approximately five) are needed if only one or two anchor models are investigated but they shrink with increasing number of anchors. The achievableB 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ is highest for SCM but this advantage is reduced when the safety factor is included. PCM appears to be more robust against variations of subjects. PASCM performance is mostly in between SCM and PCM. Compared to standard circularly polarized (CP) excitation, pTx offers minorB 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ improvements if local SAR limits are always enforced. CONCLUSION PTx body coils can safely be used atB 0 ≤ 3 T $$ {B}_0\le 3\mathrm{T} $$ . Uncertainties in patient anatomy must be accounted for, however, by simulating many models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Petzold
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
- Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schmitter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Berk Silemek
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Lukas Winter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Speck
- Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Ittermann
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Seifert
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
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Jeong H, Andersson J, Hess A, Jezzard P. Effect of subject-specific head morphometry on specific absorption rate estimates in parallel-transmit MRI at 7 T. Magn Reson Med 2023; 89:2376-2390. [PMID: 36656151 PMCID: PMC10952207 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the accuracy of morphing an established reference electromagnetic head model to a subject-specific morphometry for the estimation of specific absorption rate (SAR) in 7T parallel-transmit (pTx) MRI. METHODS Synthetic T1 -weighted MR images were created from three high-resolution open-source electromagnetic head voxel models. The accuracy of morphing a "reference" (multimodal image-based detailed anatomical [MIDA]) electromagnetic model into a different subject's native space (Duke and Ella) was compared. Both linear and nonlinear registration methods were evaluated. Maximum 10-g averaged SAR was estimated for circularly polarized mode and for 5000 random RF shim sets in an eight-channel transmit head coil, and comparison made between the morphed MIDA electromagnetic models and the native Duke and Ella electromagnetic models, respectively. RESULTS The averaged error in maximum 10-g averaged SAR estimation across pTx MRI shim sets between the MIDA and the Duke target model was reduced from 17.5% with only rigid-body registration, to 11.8% when affine linear registration was used, and further reduced to 10.7% when nonlinear registration was used. The corresponding figures for the Ella model were 16.7%, 11.2%, and 10.1%. CONCLUSION We found that morphometry accounts for up to half of the subject-specific differences in pTx SAR. Both linear and nonlinear morphing of an electromagnetic model into a target subject improved SAR agreement by better matching head size, morphometry, and position. However, differences remained, likely arising from details in tissue composition estimation. Thus, the uncertainty of the head morphometry and tissue composition may need to be considered separately to achieve personalized SAR estimation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbae Jeong
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of RadiologyMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jesper Andersson
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Aaron Hess
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- British Heart Foundation Centre for Research ExcellenceOxfordUK
| | - Peter Jezzard
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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Özen AC, Spreter F, Schimpf W, Fischer J, Ilbey S, Reiss S, Maier A, von Elverfeldt D, Heidt T, von Zur Mühlen C, Bock M. Scalable and modular 8-channel transmit and 8-channel flexible receive coil array for 19 F MRI of large animals. Magn Reson Med 2023; 89:1237-1250. [PMID: 36226654 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To introduce an RF coil system consisting of an 8-channel transmit (Tx) and 8-channel receive (Rx) coil arrays for 19 F MRI of large animals. METHODS The Tx efficiency and homogeneity of the 8-element loop coil array (loop size: 6 × 15 cm2 ) were simulated for two different pig models rendered from MR images. An 8-channel Rx coil array consisting of a flexible 6-channel posterior and a 2-channel planar anterior array was designed to fit on the abdomen of an average-sized pig in supine position. Measurements were performed in a grid phantom and ex vivo on a pig model with perfluoroctylbromide (PFOB)-filled tubes inserted in the thorax. RESULTS Measured and simulated Tx efficiency and homogeneity for the 8-channel and 5-channel arrays were in good agreement: 1.87 ± 0.22μT/√kW versus 1.96 ± 0.29μT/√kW, and 2.29 ± 0.39μT/√kW versus 2.41 ± 0.37μT/√kW. An isolation of 38 ± 8 dB is achieved between the 19 F Tx and Rx elements, and over 30 dB between the 1 H and 19 F elements. The PFOB-filled vials could be clearly identified within the cadaver abdomen with an SNR of 275 ± 51 for a 3D gradient-echo sequence with 2-mm isotropic resolution and 12 averages, acquired in 9:52 min:s. Performance of the Tx array was robust against phase and amplitude mismatches at the input ports. CONCLUSIONS A modular and scalable Tx array offers improved Tx efficiency in 19 F MRI of large animals with various sizes. Although conventional birdcage coils have superior Tx efficiency within the target region of interest, scalability of the Tx array to animal size is a major benefit. The described 19 F coil provides homogeneous excitation and high sensitivity detection in large pig models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Caglar Özen
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Felix Spreter
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Waldemar Schimpf
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Fischer
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Serhat Ilbey
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Reiss
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Maier
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, University Heart Center, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dominik von Elverfeldt
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Timo Heidt
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, University Heart Center, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Constantin von Zur Mühlen
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, University Heart Center, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Bock
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Williams SN, McElhinney P, Gunamony S. Ultra-high field MRI: parallel-transmit arrays and RF pulse design. Phys Med Biol 2023; 68. [PMID: 36410046 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aca4b7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This paper reviews the field of multiple or parallel radiofrequency (RF) transmission for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Currently the use of ultra-high field (UHF) MRI at 7 tesla and above is gaining popularity, yet faces challenges with non-uniformity of the RF field and higher RF power deposition. Since its introduction in the early 2000s, parallel transmission (pTx) has been recognized as a powerful tool for accelerating spatially selective RF pulses and combating the challenges associated with RF inhomogeneity at UHF. We provide a survey of the types of dedicated RF coils used commonly for pTx and the important modeling of the coil behavior by electromagnetic (EM) field simulations. We also discuss the additional safety considerations involved with pTx such as the specific absorption rate (SAR) and how to manage them. We then describe the application of pTx with RF pulse design, including a practical guide to popular methods. Finally, we conclude with a description of the current and future prospects for pTx, particularly its potential for routine clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney N Williams
- Imaging Centre of Excellence, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Paul McElhinney
- Imaging Centre of Excellence, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Shajan Gunamony
- Imaging Centre of Excellence, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.,MR CoilTech Limited, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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