Design of a Multi-Array Radio-Frequency Coil for Interventional MRI of the Female Breast

Serano, Peter James

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Design of a Multi-Array Radio-Frequency Coil for Interventional MRI of the Female Breast

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A new method for the simulation of radio frequency (RF) coils has been developed. This method utilizes the FEM simulation package Ansoft HFSS as a base for the modeling of RF coils with complex biological loading effects. The abilities of this software have been augmented with custom MATLAB code to enable the fast prediction of lumped element values needed to properly tune and match the coil structure as well as to perform the necessary post processing of simulation data in order to quickly generate and evaluate field data of the resonating coil and compare design variations. This method was evaluated for accuracy and implemented in the re-design of an existing four channel breast coil array for clinical imaging of the female breasts. Based on the simulation results, a commercially viable printed circuit board (PCB) implementation was developed and tested in a clinical 1.5 T MR scanner. The new design allows for wide open bilateral access to the breast regions in order to accommodate various interventional procedures. The layout has also increased axillary B1 field coverage with minor penalty to the signal-to-noise ratio of the coil array, enabling high-resolution imaging over a wide field-of-view.

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