Authors:
Maria Evelina Fantacci
1
;
Laura Biagi
2
;
Mirco Cosottini
3
;
Mauro Costagli
4
;
Massimo Marletta
5
;
Alessandra Retico
6
;
Riccardo Stara
7
;
Mark Symms
8
;
Gianluigi Tiberi
9
;
Virna Zampa
5
and
Michela Tosetti
4
Affiliations:
1
Università di Pisa and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy
;
2
IRCCS Stella Maris, Italy
;
3
Dip. di Ricerca Traslazionale e delle Nuove Tecnologie in Medicina e Chirurgia, Univ. di Pisa and Fondazione IMAGO7, Italy
;
4
IRCCS Stella Maris and Fondazione IMAGO7, Italy
;
5
Dipartimento di Radiologia Diagnostica ed Interventistica AOUP, Italy
;
6
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy
;
7
Università di Pisa, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Lucas center for Imaging, Department of Radiology and Stanford University, Italy
;
8
General Electric ASL (EMEA), Italy
;
9
Fondazione IMAGO7 and IRCCS Stella Maris, Italy
Keyword(s):
Ultra High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coils, Cervical Cord UHF MRI, Knee UHF MRI.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Biomedical Engineering
;
Biomedical Instrumentation
;
Biomedical Instruments and Devices
;
Biomedical Sensors
;
Imaging and Visualization Devices
Abstract:
Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of various musculoskeletal pathologies. New Ultra-High Field (UHF) 7 T MRI systems, with their enhanced Signal-to-Noise Ratio, may offer increased image quality in terms of spatial resolution and/or shorter scanning time compared to lower field systems. However, these benefits can be difficult to obtain because of increased radio-frequency (RF) inhomogeneity, increased Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and the relative lack of specialized and commercially available RF coils compared to lower field systems. This study reports the feasibility of imaging in bones and cartilages at UHF with a 7 T MR scanner available at the IMAGO7 Foundation (Pisa, Italy). Dedicated radio-frequency coils for proton imaging have been designed, developed, optimized for different anatomical regions and validated in vivo, and are now ready for clinical research studies. The performance of the RF coil prototypes in targeting diffe
rent anatomical regions are also demonstrated, obtaining images of the neck (the cervical cord) and of the knee (trabecular bone and cartilages).
(More)