Cameron Nowikow1, Paul Polak1, Norman B. Konyer2, Natalia Nikolova3, and Michael D. Noseworthy1,2,3
1School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, 2Imaging Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada, 3Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
1School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, 2Imaging Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada, 3Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
There is a lack of SNR in 23Na-MR images than 1H-MRI. RF coil geometry could provide an SNR increase. A comparison in B1+ field homogeneity between a Koch fractal surface coil and a circular geometry reference found the circular coil to have a more homogeneous field and associated SNR.
Figure 1: Surface coil geometry.
The geometry of the (A) circular, and (B) fractal coil. Each were copper etched on a 100x100mm FR4 substrate with breaks in loop for the tuning capacitors (Cs1-4) and the matching capacitor (Cp). One end of the loop for both coils was connected to the T/R switch via a coaxial cable while the other end of the loop was grounded using the same coaxial cable to form a one port network.
Figure 3: B1+ Field Maps.
The B1+ field maps for the (A,C,E,G) circular coil, and (B,D,F,H) fractal coil. A and B show the sagittal field map and C-H show the three coronal maps which are slice centered at depths of (C,D) 15mm, (E,F) 25mm, and (G,H) 35mm.
