A Modified Quadrature Birdcage Coil Incorporated With a Curved Feature for In Ovo MR Imaging

• Published in: IEEE open journal of engineering in medicine and biology Vol. 5; pp. 534 - 541
• Main Authors: Choi, Chang-Hoon, Bruch, Maximilian, Hong, Suk-Min, Krause, Sandra, Stegmayr, Carina, Schwan, Stefan, Worthoff, Wieland A., Felder, Jorg, Shah, N. Jon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.01.2024; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Biomedical measurement; birdcage; Chick embryo; coil; Coils; Comparative analysis; Design standards; Embryo; in ovo; Magnetic resonance imaging; MRI; Performance evaluation; Quadratures; Sensitivity analysis; Signal to noise ratio; Solid modeling; Chick embryo; coil; birdcage; MRI; in ovo
• ISSN: 2644-1276; 2644-1276
• DOI: 10.1109/OJEMB.2024.3420231

Goal: This study presents a novel MRI coil design approach explicitly tailored for chick embryo measurements, with the primary objective of improving sensitivity and coverage. Methods: The limitations posed by conventional birdcage coils were addressed by introducing a curvature feature into a standard coil. The performance of the modified coil was assessed using EM simulations and experimental evaluations, which were subsequently validated using a 7 T MRI scanner. A comparative analysis was conducted against a standard quadrature low-pass birdcage coil to evaluate key factors. Results: The proposed coil demonstrated improved SNR and uniformity, particularly in the proximity of the end-rings. These results were consistent with the findings obtained from the simulations. Conclusions: The use of our innovative birdcage coil design holds promise and offers practical potential for in ovo studies.