Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging systems rely on signal detection via radiofrequency coil arrays which, ideally, need to provide both bendability and form-fitting stretchability to conform to the imaging volume. However, most commercial coils are rigid and of fixed size with a substantial mean offset distance of the coil from the anatomy, which compromises the spatial resolution and diagnostic image quality as well as patient comfort. Here, we propose a soft and stretchable receive coil concept based on liquid metal and ultra-stretchable polymer that conforms closely to a desired anatomy. Moreover, its smart geometry provides a self-tuning mechanism to maintain a stable resonance frequency over a wide range of elongation levels. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations were experimentally confirmed and demonstrated that the proposed coil withstood the unwanted frequency detuning typically observed with other stretchable coils (0.4% for the proposed coil as compared to 4% for a comparable control coil). Moreover, the signal-to-noise ratio of the proposed coil increased by more than 60% as compared to a typical, rigid, commercial coil.

Details

Title
Stretchable self-tuning MRI receive coils based on liquid metal technology (LiquiTune)
Author
Motovilova Elizaveta 1 ; Tan Ek Tsoon 2 ; Taracila Victor 3 ; Vincent, Jana M 3 ; Grafendorfer, Thomas 3 ; Shin, James 4 ; Potter, Hollis G 2 ; Robb Fraser J L 3 ; Sneag, Darryl B 2 ; Winkler, Simone A 4 

 Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Radiology, New York, USA (GRID:grid.5386.8) (ISNI:000000041936877X); Hospital for Special Surgery, Department of Radiology, New York, USA (GRID:grid.239915.5) (ISNI:0000 0001 2285 8823) 
 Hospital for Special Surgery, Department of Radiology, New York, USA (GRID:grid.239915.5) (ISNI:0000 0001 2285 8823) 
 GE Healthcare, Aurora, USA (GRID:grid.418143.b) (ISNI:0000 0001 0943 0267) 
 Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Radiology, New York, USA (GRID:grid.5386.8) (ISNI:000000041936877X) 
Publication year
2021
Publication date
2021
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2559949847
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.