MULTIPLEXED RECEIVER COIL ARRAY FOR MRI

需要更高的图像分辨率，更高的对比度，小领域的 更短的成像时间推动了更大的 磁铁，成像技术的改进和更有效的无线电 频率（RF）换能器。 磁铁的优化工作正在顺利进行 虽然脉冲技术和RF线圈的发展继续提供 以适度的成本实现重大改进。RF的最新改进 线圈技术已推出的线圈阵列与 多通道接收器 当前可用的版本 技术是非常昂贵的（CA。25万美元），因为需要 完整的接收器通道，以匹配阵列中的每个元素。 主要 该提案的主旨是提供 多通道系统通过使用高速多路复用器。 这 这种方法将简化必要的硬件， 所述线圈阵列通过时分复用单元。 这个单位 可以以适度的成本（2.5万美元）销售，并被设计为附加组件 现有的MRI系统。 这种方法的可行性已经得到证明 在第一阶段授予的最低数量的连接到现有的 MRI系统。 此外，还对正交线圈进行了改进 阵列元件，其可以结合到多路复用系统中。 这样的系统将提供所需的高性能和吞吐量 从现代成像系统的成本和复杂性的一小部分， 现有技术。

The need for greater image resolution, higher contrast, small fields of view and shorter imaging times has driven the development of larger magnets, improvements in imaging techniques and more efficient radio frequency (RF) transducers. Optimization of the magnet is well underway while pulse techniques and RF coil development continue to provide significant improvements at a modest cost. The latest improvement in RF coil technology has been the introduction of the coil array with multichannel receivers. The currently available version of this technology is very expensive (ca. $250K) because of the need for a complete receiver channel to match each element in the array. The main thrust of this proposal is to provide the performance advantage of the multichannel system through the use of a high-speed multiplexer. This approach would simplify the necessary hardware by putting the output of the coil array through a time division multiplexing unit. This unit could be marketed for a modest cost ($25K) and be designed as an add-in to existing MRI systems. The feasibility of this approach has been shown in the Phase I grant with a minimum number of connections to an existing MRI system. Additionally, improvements have been made in quadrature coil array elements which can be incorporated into the multiplexing system. Such a system would provide the high performance and throughput required from modem imaging systems at a fraction of the cost and complexity of existing technology.