Overhauser instrumentation: similarities with and differences from MRI.

The main subject of this paper is a comparison of the instrumentation of the Overhauser imager (OI) and the MRI scanner. After introducing the OI system architecture we concentrate on different chains of the OI scanner hardware system. For each chain an overview of the typical requirements, designs and specifications of chain components is given. We compare each OI chain with the corresponding MRI chain and draw conclusions about what makes OI design easier and what are the typical OI problems. In the final conclusion we summarize the main benefits and the main drawbacks of the OI.

Low-frequency quadrature mode birdcage resonator.

The birdcage resonator is frequently used in conventional MRI because of its excellent attributes. Its use in low-field MRI is restricted to field strengths higher than, for example, 0.1 T, dependent on the size of the coil. This is because of the intrinsically low inductance value of the birdcage coils. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the birdcage at low field strengths is significantly lower when compared to, for example, the solenoid. Both problems can be overcome with the multiturn technique and a novel wound birdcage coil. The quadrature mode wound birdcage coil presented in this paper can be used at frequencies as low as 100 kHz. Its sensitivity is also increased when compared to the conventional strip-ring birdcage. Homogeneity, effective volume, and methods to increase the resonator bandwidth to match the signal bandwidth are left intact. The latter is a typical low-field problem.

Transverse low-field RF coils in MRI.

Imaging at low fields imposes a number of nonstandard requirements on the RF coil. At low fields, coil losses are dominant over patient losses. This means that even more stress is put on the quality factor Q. Furthermore, the low frequency also implies a high inductance L and/or a high capacitance C product. Just increasing the capacitance C results in a difficult optimal matching to the preamplifier as well as increased costs and higher complexity of the resonator construction. Coils with a high quality factor Q and a high inductance are thus required at low fields. Birdcage coils possess a number of advantages over saddle and solenoidal coils. However, the currently used birdcages have inherently low inductances limited by the size of the coil. The problem can be solved by a novel design in which the strip configuration for inductors is abandoned and the inductors are realized as a certain number of turns. The Q factor can be further improved by using Litz wire. Three novel transverse RF coils with high inductances are presented and compared with each other as well as to the standard coils. Both linear and quadrature modes are discussed.