Reconfigurable dipole receive array for dynamic parallel imaging at ultra‐high magnetic field

• Published in: Magnetic resonance in medicine Vol. 90; no. 4; pp. 1713 - 1727
• Main Authors: Nikulin, Anton V., Glang, Felix, Avdievich, Nikolai I., Bosch, Dario, Steffen, Theodor, Scheffler, Klaus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-10-2023
• Subjects: coil sensitivities; Coils; Dipole antennas; Equipment Design; Humans; Image acquisition; Image reconstruction; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Magnetic Fields; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; parallel imaging; Phantoms, Imaging; Prototypes; Radio frequency; Radio Waves; reconfigurable RF coil; Reconfiguration; SENSE; Sensitivity; Simulation; ultra‐high field MRI; parallel imaging; coil sensitivities; reconfigurable RF coil; SENSE; ultra-high field MRI
• ISSN: 0740-3194; 1522-2594
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29745

Purpose
To extend the concept of 3D dynamic parallel imaging, we developed a prototype of an electronically reconfigurable dipole array that provides sensitivity alteration along the dipole length.
Methods
We developed a radiofrequency array coil consisting of eight reconfigurable elevated‐end dipole antennas. The receive sensitivity profile of each dipole can be electronically shifted toward one or the other end by electrical shortening or lengthening the dipole arms using positive‐intrinsic‐negative‐diode lump‐element switching units. Based on the results of electromagnetic simulations, we built the prototype and tested it at 9.4 T on phantom and healthy volunteer. A modified 3D SENSE reconstruction was used, and geometry factor (g‐factor) calculations were performed to assess the new array coil.
Results
Electromagnetic simulations showed that the new array coil was capable of alteration of its receive sensitivity profile along the dipole length. Electromagnetic and g‐factor simulations showed closely agreeing predictions when compared to the measurements. The new dynamically reconfigurable dipole array provided significant improvement in geometry factor compared to static dipoles. We obtained up to 220% improvement for 3 × 2 (Ry × Rz) acceleration compared to the static configuration case in terms of maximum g‐factor and up to 54% in terms of mean g‐factor for the same acceleration.
Conclusion
We presented an 8‐element prototype of a novel electronically reconfigurable dipole receive array that permits rapid sensitivity modulations along the dipole axes. Applying dynamic sensitivity modulation during image acquisition emulates two virtual rows of receive elements along the z‐direction, and therefore improves parallel imaging performance for 3D acquisitions.