Jordan P. Hulet1, Seong-Eun Kim2,3, John A. Roberts2,3, Daniel R. Nightingale4, Gerald S. Treiman5,6, Dennis L. Parker2,3
1Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Ut, USA; 2Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research, Salt Lake City, Ut; 3Department of Radiology, University of Utah; 4VA Salt Lake City Health Care System; 5Surgical Service, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System; 6Department of Surgery, University of Utah, School of Medicine
The utility of a custom gradient coil insert for scanning carotid plaques was assessed. The gradient coil insert works in conjunction with the whole body gradient system of a clinical scanner to increase overall gradient performance. Excised carotid plaques were imaged on a 3T clinical scanner with and without the gradient coil insert and images were compared. Plaque images obtained using the dual gradient mode had twice the spatial in-plane resolution of those obtained without it. This novel gradient system may be used to improve clinical carotid MR studies by increasing the resolution of in-vivo plaque images.