A 24-channel radio frequency receive array for magnetic resonance imaging of primates at 10.5 T

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a unique modality which offers many advantages and challenges compared to other imaging technologies. The radio frequency (RF) coil is one of the key hardware sub-systems, which drives overall MRI system performance to enable higher resolution imaging and the collection of high fidelity information about organism structure and function. To optimize RF coil performance, notably the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the received signal, it is imperative that each coil be custom made to the specific static field strength of the MRI system, the anatomical region of interest, and the desired experimental constraints. This thesis explores some of the technical underpinnings of MRI with a focus on RF coil construction for non-human primate (NHP) imaging. A 24-channel RF receive array coil with integrated transmitter is presented, followed by a discussion of its performance, imaging results, and future directions.