A high-impedance detector-array glove for magnetic resonance imaging of the hand

• Published in: Nature biomedical engineering Vol. 2; no. 8; pp. 570 - 577
• Main Authors: Zhang, Bei, Sodickson, Daniel K., Cloos, Martijn A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.08.2018; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 59/57; 639/166/985; 639/166/987; 639/766/1130/2798; 639/766/930/2735; 692/308; Biomechanics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology; Biomedicine; Detectors; Impedance; Magnetic resonance imaging; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Phased arrays; Resonant inductive coupling; Sensors; Soft tissues; Wearable technology
• ISSN: 2157-846X; 2157-846X
• DOI: 10.1038/s41551-018-0233-y

Densely packed resonant structures used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), such as nuclear magnetic resonance phased array detectors, suffer from resonant inductive coupling, which restricts the coil design to fixed geometries, imposes performance limitations and narrows the scope of MRI experiments to motionless subjects. Here, we report the design of high-impedance detectors, and the fabrication and performance of a wearable detector array for MRI of the hand, that cloak themselves from electrodynamic interactions with neighbouring elements. We experimentally verified that the detectors do not suffer from the signal-to-noise degradation mechanisms typically observed with the use of traditional low-impedance elements. The detectors are adaptive and can accommodate movement, providing access to the imaging of soft-tissue biomechanics with unprecedented flexibility. The design of the wearable detector glove exemplifies the potential of high-impedance detectors in enabling a wide range of applications that are not well suited to traditional coil designs. A flexible magnetic resonance imaging coil bearing an array of high-impedance detectors can be stitched onto a glove and used to image the biomechanics of the hand’s soft tissue.