6 research outputs found
Using a whole-body 31P birdcage transmit coil and 16-element receive array for human cardiac metabolic imaging at 7T.
PURPOSE: Cardiac phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) provides unique insight into the mechanisms of heart failure. Yet, clinical applications have been hindered by the restricted sensitivity of the surface radiofrequency-coils normally used. These permit the analysis of spectra only from the interventricular septum, or large volumes of myocardium, which may not be meaningful in focal disease. Löring et al. recently presented a prototype whole-body (52 cm diameter) transmit/receive birdcage coil for 31P at 7T. We now present a new, easily-removable, whole-body 31P transmit radiofrequency-coil built into a patient-bed extension combined with a 16-element receive array for cardiac 31P-MRS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A fully-removable (55 cm diameter) birdcage transmit coil was combined with a 16-element receive array on a Magnetom 7T scanner (Siemens, Germany). Electro-magnetic field simulations and phantom tests of the setup were performed. In vivo maps of B1+, metabolite signals, and saturation-band efficiency were acquired across the torsos of eight volunteers. RESULTS: The combined (volume-transmit, local receive array) setup increased signal-to-noise ratio 2.6-fold 10 cm below the array (depth of the interventricular septum) compared to using the birdcage coil in transceiver mode. The simulated coefficient of variation for B1+ of the whole-body coil across the heart was 46.7% (surface coil 129.0%); and the in vivo measured value was 38.4%. Metabolite images of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate clearly resolved the ventricular blood pools, and muscle tissue was visible in phosphocreatine (PCr) maps. Amplitude-modulated saturation bands achieved 71±4% suppression of phosphocreatine PCr in chest-wall muscles. Subjects reported they were comfortable. CONCLUSION: This easy-to-assemble, volume-transmit, local receive array coil combination significantly improves the homogeneity and field-of-view for metabolic imaging of the human heart at 7T
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Whole-body 7T 31P birdcage transmit coil driven by a 35kW RF amplifier with an integrated 30-element 31P receive array and an 8-element 1H transmit/receive array
Synopsis:
We describe our experiences implementing a whole-body transmit coil driven by a 35kW RF power amplifier, with a 30-element 31P receive array, and an 8-element 1H transmit/receive array, optimised for cardiac 31P-MRS at 7T. We describe an adaptation to the vendor’s standard SAR monitoring to monitor RF power levels up to the full 35kW output of the RFPA. This new hardware was found to achieve better 31P B1+ and SNR at the depth of the heart than other coils available in our institution. This setup promises to allow the first regionally-resolved, whole-heart 31P-MRSI studies at 7T in the near future.Funded by a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (098436/Z/12/Z); a Science Enhancement from the Wellcome Trust (Grant No. 098436/Z/12/A); the EPACephalosporin Fund (Grant No. CF 284);the Oxford BHFCentre of Research Excellence (Grant No.RE/13/1/30181); and Slovak Grant Agencies VEGA (2/0001/17) and APVV (15-0029). We gratefully acknowledge support from Iulius Dragonu, Karsten Wicklow and Ulrich Fontius at Siemens Healthcare
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Using a whole-body 31P birdcage transmit coil and 16-element receive array for human cardiac metabolic imaging at 7T.
PURPOSE: Cardiac phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) provides unique insight into the mechanisms of heart failure. Yet, clinical applications have been hindered by the restricted sensitivity of the surface radiofrequency-coils normally used. These permit the analysis of spectra only from the interventricular septum, or large volumes of myocardium, which may not be meaningful in focal disease. Löring et al. recently presented a prototype whole-body (52 cm diameter) transmit/receive birdcage coil for 31P at 7T. We now present a new, easily-removable, whole-body 31P transmit radiofrequency-coil built into a patient-bed extension combined with a 16-element receive array for cardiac 31P-MRS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A fully-removable (55 cm diameter) birdcage transmit coil was combined with a 16-element receive array on a Magnetom 7T scanner (Siemens, Germany). Electro-magnetic field simulations and phantom tests of the setup were performed. In vivo maps of B1+, metabolite signals, and saturation-band efficiency were acquired across the torsos of eight volunteers. RESULTS: The combined (volume-transmit, local receive array) setup increased signal-to-noise ratio 2.6-fold 10 cm below the array (depth of the interventricular septum) compared to using the birdcage coil in transceiver mode. The simulated coefficient of variation for B1+ of the whole-body coil across the heart was 46.7% (surface coil 129.0%); and the in vivo measured value was 38.4%. Metabolite images of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate clearly resolved the ventricular blood pools, and muscle tissue was visible in phosphocreatine (PCr) maps. Amplitude-modulated saturation bands achieved 71±4% suppression of phosphocreatine PCr in chest-wall muscles. Subjects reported they were comfortable. CONCLUSION: This easy-to-assemble, volume-transmit, local receive array coil combination significantly improves the homogeneity and field-of-view for metabolic imaging of the human heart at 7T
In vivo B<sub>1</sub><sup>+</sup> mapping.
<p>(a) Representative Bloch-Siegert, 2D, transverse B<sub>1</sub><sup>+</sup> map overlaid on <sup>1</sup>H localizer image registered to the CSI grid. (b) A histogram of measured B<sub>1</sub><sup>+</sup> variability across all four subjects normalized to individual subject median B<sub>1</sub><sup>+</sup>. A fitted normal distribution function (red line) is also depicted. All voxels with sufficient SNR were used for analysis.</p
Acquired <sup>31</sup>P-MR spectra.
<p>Representative in vivo <sup>31</sup>P-MR spectra acquired with the 3D-UTE-CSI protocol in (a) human heart and (b) liver using the combined coil setup. (c) PCr metabolite map in transverse view through the chest without the saturation pulses. (d) Shows the ratio of PCr signal from acquisitions with and without the saturation bands applied to reduce skeletal muscle signal.</p