Towards uncompromised merging of 1H and 31P receive arrays for multi nuclear metabolic imaging in the brain at 7T

In order to optimally integrate ³¹P MRS and ¹H MRI, a ¹H birdcage coil is combined with a 16 channel dual-tuned ³¹P/¹H receive loop array for 7T, inserted in a ³¹P bodycoil. ¹H performance was compared to the existent NOVA head coil. Similar SAR levels and B₁⁺ distributions were obtained, but the SNR decreased in the unshielded birdcage. SNR results might be improved upon by detuning the unshielded birdcage coil during receive mode, yet the ³¹P MRSI results show very high SNR. It is concluded that the unshielded birdcage coil has an adequate ¹H transmit performance and has the potential for accelerated imaging with the 16 double-tuned receive loops.