Faculty Bibliography

Deposition of radiofrequency (RF) energy can be quantified via electric field or temperature change measurements. Magnetic resonance imaging has been used as a tool to measure three dimensional small temperature changes associated with RF radiation exposure. When duration of RF exposure is long, conversion from temperature change to specific absorption rate (SAR) is nontrivial due to prominent heat-diffusion and conduction effects. In this work, we demonstrated a method for calculation of SAR via an inversion of the heat equation including heat-diffusion and conduction effects. This method utilizes high-resolution three dimensional magnetic resonance temperature images and measured thermal properties of the phantom to achieve accurate calculation of SAR. Accuracy of the proposed method was analyzed with respect to operating frequency of a dipole antenna and parameters used in heat equation inversion. Bioelectromagnetics. 2016;9999:1-11. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Electromagnetic field simulations are increasingly used to assure RF safety of patients during MRI exams. In practice, however, tissue property distribution of the patient being imaged is not known, but may be represented with a pre-existing model. Repeatedly, agreement in transmit magnetic (B1 +) field distributions between two geometries has been used to suggest agreement in heating distributions. Here we examine relative effects of anatomical differences on B1 + distribution, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and temperature change (DeltaT). Numerical simulations were performed for a single surface coil positioned adjacent a homogeneous phantom and bovine phantom, each with slight geometric variations, and adjacent two different human body models. Experimental demonstration was performed on a bovine phantom using MR thermometry and B1 + mapping. Simulations and experiments demonstrate that B1 + distributions in different samples can be well correlated, while notable difference in maximum SAR and DeltaT occur. This work illustrates challenges associated with utilizing simulations or experiments for RF safety assurance purposes. Reliance on B1 + distributions alone for validation of simulations and/or experiments with a sample or subject for assurance of safety in another should be performed with caution.

PURPOSE: We describe a 2 x 6 channel sodium/proton array for knee MRI at 3T. Multielement coil arrays are desirable because of well-known signal-to-noise ratio advantages over volume and single-element coils. However, low tissue-coil coupling that is characteristic of coils operating at low frequency can make the potential gains from a phased array difficult to realize. METHODS: The issue of low tissue-coil coupling in the developed six-channel sodium receive array was addressed by implementing 1) a mechanically flexible former to minimize the coil-to-tissue distance and reduce the overall diameter of the array and 2) a wideband matching scheme that counteracts preamplifier noise degradation caused by coil coupling and a high-quality factor. The sodium array was complemented with a nested proton array to enable standard MRI. RESULTS: The wideband matching scheme and tight-fitting mechanical design contributed to >30% central signal-to-noise ratio gain on the sodium module over a mononuclear sodium birdcage coil, and the performance of the proton module was sufficient for clinical imaging. CONCLUSION: We expect the strategies presented in this study to be generally relevant in high-density receive arrays, particularly in x-nuclei or small animal applications. Magn Reson Med, 2015. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PURPOSE: Develop a practical comprehensive package for proactive management of parallel radiofrequency (RF) transmission. METHODS: With a constrained optimization framework and predictive models from a prescan based multichannel calibration, we presented a method supporting design and optimization of parallel RF excitation pulses that accurately obey the forward/reflected peak and average power limits of the RF power amplifiers in parallel transmit imaging experiments and Bloch simulations. Moreover, local SAR limits were incorporated into the parallel RF excitation pulses using electromagnetic field simulations. Virtual transmit coils concept for minimization of reflected power (effecting subject-specific matching) was additionally demonstrated by leveraging experimentally calibrated power models. RESULTS: Incorporation of experimentally calibrated power prediction models resulted in accurate compliance with prescribed hardware and global specific absorption rate (SAR) limits. Incorporation of spatial average 10 g SAR models, facilitated by simplifying numerical approximations, provided assurance of patient safety. RF pulses designed with various constraints demonstrated excellent excitation fidelity-the normalized root-mean-square error of the simulated excitation profiles was 2.6% for the fully constrained pulses, comparable to that of the unconstrained pulses. An RF shimming example showed a reduction of the reflected-to-forward power ratio to 1.7% from a conventional approach's 8.1%. CONCLUSION: Using the presented RF pulse design method, effective proactive management of the multifaceted power and SAR limits was demonstrated in experimental and simulation studies. Magn Reson Med, 2015. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PURPOSE: Strict regulations are imposed on the amount of radiofrequency (RF) energy that devices can emit to prevent excessive deposition of RF energy into the body. In this study, we investigated the application of MR temperature mapping and 10-g average specific absorption rate (SAR) computation for safety evaluation of RF-emitting devices. METHODS: Quantification of the RF power deposition was shown for an MRI-compatible dipole antenna and a non-MRI-compatible mobile phone via phantom temperature change measurements. Validation of the MR temperature mapping method was demonstrated by comparison with physical temperature measurements and electromagnetic field simulations. MR temperature measurements alongside physical property measurements were used to reconstruct 10-g average SAR. RESULTS: The maximum temperature change for a dipole antenna and the maximum 10-g average SAR were 1.83 degrees C and 12.4 W/kg, respectively, for simulations and 1.73 degrees C and 11.9 W/kg, respectively, for experiments. The difference between MR and probe thermometry was <0.15 degrees C. The maximum temperature change and the maximum 10-g average SAR for a cell phone radiating at maximum output for 15 min was 1.7 degrees C and 0.54 W/kg, respectively. CONCLUSION: Information acquired using MR temperature mapping and thermal property measurements can assess RF/microwave safety with high resolution and fidelity. Magn Reson Med, 2014. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Radiofrequency (RF) emitting wireless devices such as mobile phones are required to undergo standardized safety testing prior to entering the consumer market. Strict regulations are imposed on the amount of RF energy these devices are allowed to emit to prevent excessive deposition of RF energy into the body. In this work, a novel safety evaluation test for wireless devices using magnetic resonance thermometry is proposed.

In ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging, parallel radiofrequency (RF) transmission presents both opportunities and challenges for specific absorption rate management. On one hand, parallel transmission provides flexibility in tailoring electric fields in the body while facilitating magnetization profile control. On the other hand, it increases the complexity of energy deposition as well as possibly exacerbating local specific absorption rate by improper design or delivery of RF pulses. This study shows that the information needed to characterize RF heating in parallel transmission is contained within a local power correlation matrix. Building upon a calibration scheme involving a finite number of magnetic resonance thermometry measurements, this work establishes a way of estimating the local power correlation matrix. Determination of this matrix allows prediction of temperature change for an arbitrary parallel transmit RF pulse. In the case of a three transmit coil MR experiment in a phantom, determination and validation of the power correlation matrix were conducted in less than 200 min with induced temperature changes of <4 degrees C. Further optimization and adaptation are possible, and simulations evaluating potential feasibility for in vivo use are presented. The method allows general characteristics indicative of RF coil/pulse safety determined in situ. Magn Reson Med, 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Radiofrequency shimming with multiple channel excitation has been proposed to increase the transverse magnetic field uniformity and reduce specific absorption rate at high magnetic field strengths (>/=7 T) where high-frequency effects can make traditional single channel volume coils unsuitable for transmission. In the case of deep anatomic regions and power-demanding pulse sequences, optimization of transmit efficiency may be a more critical requirement than homogeneity per se. This work introduces a novel method to maximize transmit efficiency using multiple channel excitation and radiofrequency shimming. Shimming weights are calculated in order to obtain the lowest possible net radiofrequency power deposition into the subject for a given transverse magnetic field strength. The method was demonstrated in imaging studies of articular cartilage of the hip joint at 7 T. We show that the new radiofrequency shimming method can enable reduction in power deposition while maintaining an average flip angle or adiabatic condition in the hip cartilage. Building upon the improved shimming, we further show that the signal-to-noise ratio in hip cartilage at 7 T can be substantially greater than that at 3 T, illustrating the potential benefits of high field hip imaging. Magn Reson Med, 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.