Stefan Maderwald1,2, Stephan Orzada1,2,
Lena C. Schfer1,2, Andreas K. Bitz1,2, Kai
Nassenstein, 12, Oliver Kraff1,2, Irina Brote1,2,
Mark Oehmingen1, Susanne C. Ladd1,2, Mark E. Ladd1,2,
Harald H. Quick1,3
1Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic
Resonance Imaging, Essen, Germany; 2Department of Diagnostic and
Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen,
Essen, Germany; 3Institute of Medical Physics,
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nrnberg, Erlangen, Germany
Highfield
MRI at 7T inherently offers higher signal-to-noise and enhanced soft tissue
contrasts when compared to 1.5T or even 3T MRI, which might improve image
quality in selected imaging applications like high-resolution cardiac MRI in
humans. To push cardiac MRI at 7T another step further, a number of artifacts
and imaging constraints related to 7T transmit/receive problems have to be
addressed first. Additionally, protocols already established for 1.5T and 3T
cardiac imaging have to be evaluated. This study presents two RF coil
concepts to tackle some transmit/receive issues and evaluates established
cardiac protocols which have been modified for application at 7T.
Keywords