High Dielectric Sheet to reduce Electric Fields and Flatten Magnetic Fields in Self-decoupled Radiofrequency coils for MR Imaging

TL;DR

This paper introduces a high dielectric sheet to reduce electric fields and improve magnetic field uniformity in self-decoupled RF coils, enhancing safety and imaging quality in ultra-high field MRI.

Contribution

It proposes using a high dielectric sheet to simultaneously lower electric fields and enhance decoupling in high impedance RF coils for MRI.

Findings

Reduced electric fields across the coil.

Improved electromagnetic decoupling.

Maintained high imaging performance.

Abstract

High impedance RF coils, such as self-decoupled coils, reduce the electromagnetic coupling between the coil elements and eliminates the use of complex decoupling technologies. Although the high impedance design promises excellent decoupling between the coil elements, it also results in high electric fields across the RF coil, leading to potential safety problems during imaging. It also causes B1 field asymmetry, ultimately leading to difficulties in imaging quantification. In this study, we propose and investigate using a high dielectric sheet to reduce the electric fields across the coil and achieve excellent electromagnetic decoupling among the coil elements, thereby ensuring safer MRI at ultra-high fields and maintaining high imaging performance.