Source
Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charite' University Medicine Campus Berlin Buch, Berlin, Germany. Matthias.Dieringer@mdc-berlin.de
Abstract
PURPOSE:
To design and evaluate a four-channel cardiac transceiver coil array for functional cardiac imaging at 7T.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
A four-element cardiac transceiver surface coil array was developed with two rectangular loops mounted on an anterior former and two rectangular loops on a posterior former. specific absorption rate (SAR) simulations were performed and a B 1+ calibration method was applied prior to obtain 2D FLASH CINE (mSENSE, R = 2) images from nine healthy volunteers with a spatial resolution of up to 1 × 1 × 2.5 mm(3).
RESULTS:
Tuning and matching was found to be better than 10 dB for all subjects. The decoupling (S(21)) was measured to be >18 dB between neighboring loops, >20 dB for opposite loops, and >30 dB for other loop combinations. SAR values were well within the limits provided by the IEC. Imaging provided clinically acceptable signal homogeneity with an excellent blood-myocardium contrast applying the B 1+ calibration approach.
CONCLUSION:
A four-channel cardiac transceiver coil array for 7T was built, allowing for cardiac imaging with clinically acceptable signal homogeneity and an excellent blood-myocardium contrast. Minor anatomic structures, such as pericardium, mitral, and tricuspid valves and their apparatus, as well as trabeculae, were accurately delineated.
Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.