A comparison of single-channel and multi-channel RF transmit coil for SSFP cine imaging at 3 Tesla

Shazia Hussain,Eike Nagel,Andreas Wiethoff,Geraint Morton,Amedeo Chiribiri,Masaki Ishida,Andreas Schuster

doi:10.1186/1532-429x-13-s1-o10

Abstract

On high field MRI scanners uniform radio frequency (RF) excitation over the entire field-of-view (FOV) is often challenging with single-channel RF transmit coils. This may cause a reduction of image quality (e.g. shadowing artifacts). This problem is most pronounced in sequences that heavily rely on a homogenous magnetic field, such as steady state free precession (SSFP) sequences. Multi-channel RF transmission (Tx) has been shown to significantly improve the RF (B1 field) uniformity in high-field MRI. More accurate knowledge of the local B1 field also allows to better predicting the local specific absorption rate (SAR), thereby allowing for shorter repetition times (TR). Overall, this may allow for an improvement in image quality as a consequence of reduced artefact

Highlights

On high field MRI scanners uniform radio frequency (RF) excitation over the entire field-of-view (FOV) is often challenging with single-channel RF transmit coils. This may cause a reduction of image quality
This problem is most pronounced in sequences that heavily rely on a homogenous magnetic field, such as steady state free precession (SSFP) sequences
More accurate knowledge of the local B1 field allows to better predicting the local specific absorption rate (SAR), thereby allowing for shorter repetition times (TR). This may allow for an improvement in image quality as a consequence of reduced artefact

Summary

Introduction

On high field MRI scanners uniform radio frequency (RF) excitation over the entire field-of-view (FOV) is often challenging with single-channel RF transmit coils. This may cause a reduction of image quality (e.g. shadowing artifacts). More accurate knowledge of the local B1 field allows to better predicting the local specific absorption rate (SAR), thereby allowing for shorter repetition times (TR). Overall, this may allow for an improvement in image quality as a consequence of reduced artefact

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion