U1-16 Tech offer New Resonators for MRI - uni …¼ Target depth of 10 cm at 3 Tesla ü Improved...
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TECHNOLOGY OFFER U1-16: New Resonators for MRI ü An increase in signal to noise ratio of approximately 20% ü Target depth of 10 cm at 3 Tesla ü Improved parallel imaging performance Technology A novel concept to model resonators partially in a plane with maximum sensitivity to the magnetic resonance signal and partially in an orthogonal plane. Thus, properties of individual elements in coil arrays can be modified to optimize physical planar space and increase the sensitivity of the overall array. A particular case of the concept is implemented to decrease H- field destructive interferences in planar concentric in-phase arrays. An increase in signal to noise ratio of approximately 20% was achieved with two resonators placed over approximately the same planar area compared to common approaches at a target depth of 10 cm at 3 Tesla. Improved parallel imaging performance of this configuration is also demonstrated. The concept can be further used to increase coil density. Background Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a key factor in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). SNR can limit the minimum scanning times and applications, the maximum resolution, and could also determine the diagnostic quality of the images. The maximum SNR is limited by the MRI system, the measurement setup and the signal reception elements. For a given setup and system, increasing SNR at a region of interest (ROI) is increasingly challenging as the depth of the ROI increases. The challenge is present even in innovative approaches such as the use of metamaterials, which focus the sensitivity field but obtain maximum SNR gains from objects near the coil i.e. superficial areas of the body. Therefore, the optimization of reception elements for MRI is necessary to maximize SNR especially for deep tissues in the body. Advantages ü An increase in signal to noise ratio of approximately 20% ü Using the anterior-posterior direction to encode the phase ü Reduce coupling between next-nearest neighbours. ü Increase coil density ü Enhance the performance of the array Developmental Stage ü proof-of-principle ü Prototype Commercial Opportunity ü New Array Design using Orthogonal RF Resonators Intellectual Property Patent filed August 2016 EP 16001 855,2 Fig. 1) Schematic of a traditional planar concen- tric array in comparison to the new array. The pla- nar array formed by a single loop (red) and butter y coil (blue) contain an area of destructive interfer- ence of H-field (yellow) and the dimensions of the butter y extend far beyond the area of interest (gray) for an optimal performance at the target depth. An array of a partially orthogonal single loop (red) and a partially orthogonal butterfly coil (blue). The orthog- onal areas with opposing H-field directions (yellow areas) were used as active shielding in plane orthog- onal to the plane with highest sensitivity to a sample (gray). e constructive interference (green areas) can be increased for enhanced B1 and more efficient use of planar physical space. . Contact: technology transfer heidelberg GmbH Im Neuenheimer Feld 672 D-69120 Heidelberg Germany Email: [email protected] UNIVERSITÄT HEIDELBERG
Transcript of U1-16 Tech offer New Resonators for MRI - uni …¼ Target depth of 10 cm at 3 Tesla ü Improved...
TECHNOLOGY OFFER
U1-16:NewResonatorsforMRI
ü Anincreaseinsignaltonoiseratioofapproximately20%ü Targetdepthof10cmat3Teslaü Improvedparallelimagingperformance
TechnologyAnovelconcepttomodelresonatorspartially inaplanewithmaximum sensitivity to the magnetic resonance signal andpartiallyinanorthogonalplane.Thus,propertiesofindividualelements in coil arrays can bemodified to optimize physicalplanarspaceandincreasethesensitivityoftheoverallarray.Aparticularcaseoftheconcept is implementedtodecreaseH-field destructive interferences in planar concentric in-phasearrays. An increase in signal to noise ratio of approximately20% was achieved with two resonators placed overapproximately the same planar area compared to commonapproaches at a target depth of 10 cm at 3 Tesla. Improvedparallel imaging performance of this configuration is alsodemonstrated. The concept can be further used to increasecoildensity.
BackgroundSignal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a key factor in magneticresonanceimaging(MRI).SNRcanlimittheminimumscanningtimes and applications, the maximum resolution, and couldalso determine the diagnostic quality of the images. ThemaximumSNRislimitedbytheMRIsystem,themeasurementsetupandthesignalreceptionelements.Foragivensetupandsystem, increasing SNR at a region of interest (ROI) isincreasinglychallengingasthedepthoftheROIincreases.Thechallengeispresentevenininnovativeapproachessuchastheuse of metamaterials, which focus the sensitivity field butobtain maximum SNR gains from objects near the coil i.e.superficial areas of the body. Therefore, the optimization ofreception elements for MRI is necessary to maximize SNRespeciallyfordeeptissuesinthebody.Advantagesü Anincreaseinsignaltonoiseratioofapproximately20%ü Usingtheanterior-posteriordirectiontoencodethephaseü Reducecouplingbetweennext-nearestneighbours.ü Increasecoildensityü Enhancetheperformanceofthearray
DevelopmentalStageü proof-of-principleü Prototype
CommercialOpportunityü NewArrayDesignusingOrthogonalRFResonators
IntellectualPropertyPatentfiledAugust2016EP16001855,2
Fig.1)Schematicofatraditionalplanarconcen-
tricarrayincomparisontothenewarray.Thepla-nararrayformedbyasingleloop(red)andbutterycoil(blue)containanareaofdestructiveinterfer-enceofH-field(yellow)andthedimensionsofthebutteryextendfarbeyondtheareaofinterest(gray)foranoptimalperformanceatthetargetdepth.Anarrayofapartiallyorthogonalsingleloop(red)andapartiallyorthogonalbutterflycoil(blue).Theorthog-onalareaswithopposingH-fielddirections(yellowareas)wereusedasactiveshieldinginplaneorthog-onaltotheplanewithhighestsensitivitytoasample(gray).econstructiveinterference(greenareas)canbeincreasedforenhancedB1andmoreefficientuseofplanarphysicalspace.
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Contact: technologytransferheidelbergGmbHImNeuenheimerFeld672D-69120HeidelbergGermanyEmail:[email protected]
UNIVERSITÄT HEIDELBERG
