Scott B. King1, Jesse Bellec2,
Vyacheslav Volotovskyy1, Hung-Yu Lin1, Christopher P.
Bidinosti2, Krzysztof Jasinski3, Mike J. Smith1,
Boguslaw Tomanek4
1Institute for Biodiagnostics, National
Research Council of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; 2Department
of Physics, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; 3Department
of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Polish Academy of Sciences, H. Niewodniczanski
Institute of Nuclear Physics, Krakow, Poland; 4Institute for
Biodiagnostics (West), National Research Council of Canada, Calgary, Alberta,
Canada
High
spatial resolution vessel/cavity wall MRI requires a signal-to-noise ratio
much higher than can be achieved using external phased array coils, so
intravascular RF coils are used directly adjacent to the vessel of
interest. Concentric birdcage designs
are interesting in that they maintain the longitudinal SNR coverage, but also
demonstrate some radial homogeneity albeit with azimuthal asymmetries that
may not be ideal. Multi-turn crossed
loops are another good design retaining the forward looking capability and
orientation independence previously reported, but now with good longitudinal
SNR coverage. These designs may offer
alternatives to the low SNR opposed solenoid design.