Certain pathologies require high-resolution images of different areas of the body in order to provide safe and accurate treatment. Some MRI radiofrequency (RF) coils are designed to image specific anatomy, allowing increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in MR images. RF coils work best when placed directly next to the region of interest, but this can be made difficult in MRgFUS treatments due to the hardware requirements of the technology. The RF coil laboratory at the University of Utah develops MRI coils for both diagnostic and interventional treatments. Our lab has built integrated MRI coils into our MRgFUS technology, providing the image SNR required for our high-resolution, volumetric imaging techniques. We have also developed and integrated tracking, or positioning coils, into our hardware. These coils allow us to determine the position of the focused ultrasound focal spot automatically, improving the treatment flow and positioning accuracy of our MRgFUS treatments.
An example of images from our custom coil (right) versus a standard manufacturer's coil (left).
Related Publications
Svedin, B. T., Beck, M. J., Hadley, J. R., Merrill, R., de Bever, J. T., Bolster Jr, B. D., ... & Parker, D. L. (2017). Focal point determination in magnetic resonance‐guided focused ultrasound using tracking coils. Magnetic resonance in medicine,77(6), 2424-2430.
Minalga, E., Payne, A., Merrill, R., Todd, N., Vijayakumar, S., Kholmovski, E., ... & Hadley, J. R. (2013). An 11‐channel radio frequency phased array coil for magnetic resonance guided high‐intensity focused ultrasound of the breast. Magnetic resonance in medicine,69(1), 295-302.