Abstract #0169

Optimization of the Transceiver Phased Array for Human Brain Imaging at 9.4 T: Loop Overlapping Rediscovered.

Nikolai I Avdievich¹, Ioannis Giapitzakis¹, Andreas Pfrommer¹, and Anke Henning^1,2

¹High-field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, ²Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Ultra-high field (UHF) (>7T) transmit (Tx) and transceiver surface loop phased arrays improve Tx-efficiency and homogeneity for human brain imaging. Overlapping the loops enhances Tx-efficiency and SNR by increasing the penetration depth. However, overlapping can compromise decoupling and SNR by generating a substantial mutual resistance. Therefore, UHF Tx-arrays are commonly constructed using gapped loops. Based on analytical optimization we constructed a 9.4T 8-loop head transceiver array. Both the magnetic and electric coupling were compensated at the same time by overlapping and excellent decoupling was obtained. Tx- and Rx-performance of the array was compared favorably to that of a gaped array.

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