Integrated RF/shim coil array for parallel reception and localized B0 shimming in the human brain

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2014-12, Vol.103, p.235-240
• Main Authors: Truong, Trong-Kha, Darnell, Dean, Song, Allen W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: B0 shimming; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - physiology; Brain Mapping - methods; Coil array; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human brain; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; RF coil; Shim coil; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.09.052

The purpose of this work was to develop a novel integrated radiofrequency and shim (RF/shim) coil array that can perform parallel reception and localized B0 shimming in the human brain with the same coils, thereby maximizing both the signal-to-noise ratio and shimming efficiency. A 32-channel receive-only head coil array was modified to enable both RF currents (for signal reception) and direct currents (for B0 shimming) to flow in individual coil elements. Its in vivo performance was assessed in the frontal brain region, which is affected by large susceptibility-induced B0 inhomogeneities. The coil modifications did not reduce their quality factor or signal-to-noise ratio. Axial B0 maps and echo-planar images acquired in vivo with direct currents optimized to shim specific slices showed substantially reduced B0 inhomogeneities and image distortions in the frontal brain region. The B0 root-mean-square error in the anterior half of the brain was reduced by 60.3% as compared to that obtained with second-order spherical harmonic shimming. These results demonstrate that the integrated RF/shim coil array can perform parallel reception and localized B0 shimming in the human brain and provide a much more effective shimming than conventional spherical harmonic shimming alone, without taking up additional space in the magnet bore and without compromising the signal-to-noise ratio or shimming performance. [Display omitted] •Integrated RF/shim coil array for parallel reception and localized B0 shimming•Can reduce B0 inhomogeneities and image distortions in the human brain in vivo•Is much more effective than conventional spherical harmonic shimming•Does not take up valuable space in the magnet bore•Does not compromise the signal-to-noise ratio or shimming performance