Mechanical and electrical properties of electroplated copper for MR-imaging coils

Abstract

Mechanical and electrical properties of electroplated copper films were investigated to be used in an active tracking system for the patient-safe localisation of a catheter in intravascular interventions using magnetic resonance imaging. For this system spiral micro coils with high aspect ratio are fabricated on a planar polyimide foil to be wrapped around a catheter tip. Due to this special assembly method the coils and the copper, respectively, have to withstand high mechanical forces. The influence of the electroplating parameters as current density and shape, temperature and sample motion on the mechanical and electrical properties is investigated. These samples were characterised using nanoindentation, tensile tests, laser profiler and four-point prober. Results show that a low constant current density at a temperature of 40°C and sample motion generate flexible and high-Q copper coils.