Designing a Self-Decoupled 16 Channel Transmitter for Human Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 447MHz

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel self-decoupled 16-channel transmit array for ultra high field human brain MRI at 447MHz, eliminating the need for traditional decoupling methods through innovative design and electromagnetic simulation.

Contribution

The paper presents the first self-decoupled, loop-based transmit array for 10.5T MRI, simplifying array design and improving decoupling efficiency without conventional overlap or inductive techniques.

Findings

Effective decoupling achieved in simulations

Elimination of traditional overlap/inductive decoupling methods

Potential for improved MRI transmit array design

Abstract

Transmitter arrays play a critical role in ultra high field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), especially given the advantages made possible via parallel transmission (pTx) techniques. One of the challenges in design and construction of transmit arrays has traditionally been finding effective strategies for decoupling elements of the transmit array. Here, we present the design of the first self-decoupled, loop-based transmit array for human brain MRI at 10.5T / 447MHz. We demonstrate, using full-wave electromagnetic simulations, effective decoupling of the transmit elements without requiring the conventional overlap or inductive decoupling techniques.