Different configurations of metamaterials coupled with an RF coil for MRI Applications

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2012-12, Vol.109 (4), p.1059-1063
• Main Authors: Khennouche, M. S., Gadot, F., Belier, B., de Lustrac, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied classical electromagnetism; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Electromagnetic wave propagation, radiowave propagation; Electromagnetism; electron and ion optics; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Machines; Manufacturing; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical materials; Optics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-012-7408-2

In this paper, the effect of coupling two kinds of metamaterial cells with a coil to achieve Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is investigated. Both an array of four spirals then a single spiral-shaped metamaterial are put on the top of the coil antenna. These metamaterial based resonant structures are designed to work at 63 MHz. They are intended to increase the sensitivity of the whole system and to improve the homogeneity of the RF magnetic field pattern. The spiral-shaped metamaterials added on the top of the antenna gave very promising numerical results. The calculated magnetic fields are homogeneous and their magnitudes are multiplied by factor of 4 up to 6. We are fabricating both structures using microfabrication techniques because of the small size of the structures.