High Impedance Detector Arrays for Magnetic Resonance

TL;DR

This paper introduces a high impedance detector array for magnetic resonance that reduces inter-element coupling, enhancing performance and enabling innovative applications like wearable MRI gloves.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel high impedance detector design that cloaks itself from electrodynamic interactions, improving MRI array performance and enabling new wearable imaging applications.

Findings

High impedance detectors do not suffer from traditional signal-to-noise degradation.

Experimental verification of reduced coupling effects in the new detector design.

Demonstration of a wearable MRI detector glove for hand imaging.

Abstract

Resonant inductive coupling is commonly seen as an undesired fundamental phenomenon emergent in densely packed resonant structures, such as nuclear magnetic resonance phased array detectors. The need to mitigate coupling imposes rigid constraints on the detector design, impeding performance and limiting the scope of magnetic resonance experiments. Here we introduce a high impedance detector design, which can cloak itself from electrodynamic interactions with neighboring elements. We verify experimentally that the high impedance detectors do not suffer from signal-to-noise degradation mechanisms observed with traditional low impedance elements. Using this new-found robustness, we demonstrate an adaptive wearable detector array for magnetic resonance imaging of the hand. The unique properties of the detector glove reveal new pathways to study the biomechanics of soft tissues, and exemplify the enabling potential of high-impedance detectors for a wide range of demanding applications that are not well suited to traditional coil designs.