Motivation: MR thermometry (MRT) based RF coil safety validation requires precise measurements with high sensitivity. Goal(s): To maximise MRT coil validation sensitivity by designing a bespoke phantom and phantom holder Approach: A phantom with embedded temperature probes and oil references for proton resonance frequency shift thermometry was designed, combined with a 3D printed holder that fills the space between the phantom and the coil. This both positions the phantom securely and thermally isolates it, maximizing sensitivity of MRT. Results: A high degree of thermal isolation was observed, with MRT experiments able to detect significant RF induced temperature changes. Impact: The thermally insulating 3D printed phantom holder is beneficial for MRT-based RF coil validation studies, enabling stable geometry and minimising environmental temperature loss for SAR estimation. The design can easily be adapted for other coil dimensions and probe positions.
Dokumaci et al. (Tue,) studied this question.