Motivation: The small diameter, long length, and varying tissue surrounding the spinal cord (SC) impose specific considerations when designing radio-frequency (RF) coils. The optimal coil configuration for 7T SC MRI is unknown and, currently, there are few coil options. Goal(s): To develop a quality control protocol for the evaluation of 7T SC coils and to use this protocol to assess four different 7T RF coils. Approach: Three healthy volunteers and a phantom were scanned at seven centers using our protocol and the center's corresponding RF coil. Results: We found competing performance features among the evaluated coils. Users should prioritize their specific application's needs. Impact: A harmonized quality control protocol can help the community expedite the coil development process. Our comparative analysis of four SC RF coils serves as a guide for selecting an appropriate coil and for the design of future coils.
Alonso‐Ortiz et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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