Key result
An automated tuning system using piezoelectric actuators reduced the time required to tune an eight-element pTx cardiac RF array from a mean of 30 minutes to less than 10 minutes.
Why the study?
Does an automated tuning system using piezoelectric actuators reduce tuning time for a 7T cardiac transceive array?
Does an automated tuning system using piezoelectric actuators reduce tuning time for a 7T cardiac transceive array?
An automated tuning system using piezoelectric actuators significantly reduces the tuning time for 7T cardiac MRI arrays, making ultra-high field cardiac imaging more practical for clinical use.
Reduces 7T pTx cardiac array tuning time; leaves open routine clinical translation.
PURPOSE: Ultra-high field (UHF) MR scanning in the body requires novel coil designs due to B1 field inhomogeneities. In the transverse electromagnetic field (TEM) design, maximum B1 transmit power can only be achieved if each individual transmit element is tuned and matched for different coil loads, which requires a considerable amount of valuable scanner time. METHODS: An integrated system for autotuning a multichannel parallel transmit (pTx) cardiac TEM array was devised, using piezoelectric actuators, power monitoring equipment and control software. The reproducibility and performance of the system were tested and the power responses of the coil elements were profiled. An automated optimization method was devised and evaluated. RESULTS: The time required to tune an eight-element pTx cardiac RF array was reduced from a mean of 30 min to less than 10 min with the use of this system. CONCLUSION: Piezoelectric actuators are an attractive means of tuning RF coil arrays to yield more efficient B1 transmission into the subject. An automated mechanism for tuning these elements provides a practical solution for cardiac imaging at UHF, bringing this technology closer to clinical use.
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Keith et al. (2014) studied Cardiac imaging at ultra-high field. Automated tuning system using piezoelectric actuators vs. Manual tuning was evaluated on Time required to tune an eight-element pTx cardiac RF array. An automated tuning system using piezoelectric actuators reduced the time required to tune an eight-element pTx cardiac RF array from a mean of 30 minutes to less than 10 minutes.
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