Characterizing the imaging environment for supine breast MRI.

Purpose: Supine breast MRI has the potential to improve over standard prone breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in terms of efficiency and image quality, image alignment with diagnostic and treatment procedures, and overall accessibility. This study aims to characterize potential technical challenges of imaging in the supine position: (i)  field inhomogeneities, (ii)  variations, (iii) respiratory-induced breast motion, and (iv) supine breast geometry.

Methods: Ten healthy subjects were scanned at 3T in both prone and supine positions to quantify and compare (i) and (ii) between both positions, and to assess (iii) in the supine position.

Design and Dynamic In Vivo Validation of a Multi-Channel Stretchable Liquid Metal Coil Array.

Recent developments in the field of radiofrequency (RF) coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer flexible and patient-friendly solutions. Previously, we demonstrated a proof-of-concept single-element stretchable coil design based on liquid metal and a self-tuning smart geometry. In this work, we numerically analyze and experimentally study a multi-channel stretchable coil array and demonstrate its application in dynamic knee imaging.

Flexible array coil for cervical and extraspinal (FACE) MRI at 3.0 Tesla.

High-resolution MRI of the cervical spine (c-spine) and extraspinal neck region requires close-fitting receiver coils to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Conventional, rigid C-spine receiver coils do not adequately contour to the neck to accommodate varying body shapes, resulting in suboptimal SNR. Recent innovations in flexible surface coil array designs may provide three-dimensional (3D) bendability and conformability to optimize SNR, while improving capabilities for higher acceleration factors.

Dual-Channel Stretchable, Self-Tuning, Liquid Metal Coils and Their Fabrication Techniques.

Flexible and stretchable radiofrequency coils for magnetic resonance imaging represent an emerging and rapidly growing field. The main advantage of such coil designs is their conformal nature, enabling a closer anatomical fit, patient comfort, and freedom of movement. Previously, we demonstrated a proof-of-concept single element stretchable coil design with a self-tuning smart geometry.

Silicone-based materials with tailored MR relaxation characteristics for use in reduced coil visibility and in tissue-mimicking phantom design.

Background: The development of materials with tailored signal intensity in MR imaging is critically important both for the reduction of signal from non-tissue hardware, as well as for the construction of tissue-mimicking phantoms. Silicone-based phantoms are becoming more popular due to their structural stability, stretchability, longer shelf life, and ease of handling, as well as for their application in dynamic imaging of physiology in motion. Moreover, silicone can be also used for the design of stretchable receive radio-frequency (RF) coils.

Stretchable self-tuning MRI receive coils based on liquid metal technology (LiquiTune).

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.

Dual-Tuned Removable Common-Mode Current Trap for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) are preferred methods of gathering structural and metabolic information from the body due to their non-invasive approach to obtaining a diagnosis. Dual-tuned radiofrequency (RF) coils can detect signals produced by both hydrogen and a second atomic nuclei of interest. However, undesired electromagnetic coupling often confounds both the design and utilization of RF coils.

Stitching Stretchable Radiofrequency Coils for MRI: A Conductive Thread and Athletic Fabric Approach.

Objective: We propose a novel flexible and entirely stretchable radiofrequency coil for magnetic resonance imaging. This coil design aims at increasing patient comfort during joint imaging while maintaining or improving image quality.

Methods: Conductive silver-coated thread was stitched in a zigzag pattern onto stretchable athletic fabric to create a single-loop receive coil.

Conductive Thread-Based Stretchable and Flexible Radiofrequency Coils for Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objective: We propose a novel flexible and entirely stretchable radiofrequency coil for magnetic resonance imaging. This coil design aims at increasing patient comfort during imaging while maintaining or improving image quality.

Methods: Conductive silver-coated thread was zigzag stitched onto stretchable athletic fabric to create a single-loop receive coil.