Traveling Wave Imaging of the Human Head at 7 Tesla: Assessment of SNR, Homogeneity and B1+ Efficiency

Graham Wiggins¹, Bei Zhang¹, Qi Duan¹, Daniel K. Sodickson¹

In contrast to standard volume coil designs, which set up a standing wave within the volume of the coil, it is possible with a patch antenna to excite a traveling wave mode down the entire bore of the scanner. We assess the utility of this approach for human head imaging at 7 Tesla. Homogeneity was improved compared to a CP head coil, though results were subject-dependent. The B1+ efficiency of the patch antenna and the SNR obtained when it is used in transmit-receive mode were assessed.