Introduction
To date, spatial encoding for MRI is based on linear X, Y and Z field gradients generated by dedicated X, Y and Z wire patterns. The multi-coil (MC) technique developed at the Yale MRRC enables the generation of a multitude of magnetic field shapes relevant to biomedical MR. The benefits of the Dynamic Multi-Coil Technique (DYNAMITE) for the magnetic field shimming in rodent and human brain have been shown recently as well as proof-of-principle of radial and algebraic MRI.
Goal
The goals of this methodological research are 1) to realize DYNAMITE MRI at an image fidelity comparable to conventional gradient coils; 2) to integrated DYNAMITE MRI with B0 shimming; and 3) to employ the DYNAMITE potential for the development of improved and novel MRI applications (e.g. ultra-fast or algebraic).
Current Work
The MC approach permits the simultaneous generation of linear MRI encoding fields and complex shim fields by the same setup and allows the integration of conventional imaging and shim coils into a single MC system. The first 3-dimensional multi-slice implementation of DYNAMITE MRI has been presented recently with a miniaturized setup in which all gradient fields are purely MC-based. The obtained image fidelity was shown to be virtually identical to a conventional MRI system with dedicated X, Y and Z gradient coils. Comparable image quality is a milestone towards the establishment of fully functional and purely MC-based MRI (and shim) systems.
Publications
Juchem C, Theilenberg S, Kumaragamage C, Mullen M, DelaBarre L, Adriany G, Brown PB, McIntyre S, Nixon TW, Garwood M, de Graaf RA. Dynamic multicoil technique (DYNAMITE) MRI on human brain. Magn Reson Med. 2020 Dec;84(6):2953-2963. doi: 10.1002/mrm.28323.