Basic Principles of and Practical Guide to Clinical MRI Radiofrequency Coils. May-June 2022-RG210110-2022-Kwok-SG

RG210110-2022-Kwok-SG

Pdf Summary

This study guide focuses on the basic principles and practical applications of clinical MRI radiofrequency (RF) coils, offering insights useful for those engaging with the corresponding SA-CME activity at rsna.org. While the guide doesn't award credits itself, it serves to assist in preparing for the online test.<br /><br />1. The guide compares different MRI RF coils, highlighting the advantage of circularly polarized transmit coils over linearly polarized ones. These include a higher image signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), potentially improving overall image quality without increasing the RF transmit power or impacting the patient's safety.<br /><br />2. It outlines the primary function of multi-transmit coils, which is to enhance B1 field homogeneity within the body, ensuring more uniform magnetic fields and consequently, higher image quality. This factor is critical in minimizing high local RF power deposition.<br /><br />3. The guide discusses the benefits flexible coils have over rigid coils, particularly focusing on how they provide easier immobilization of the body part being scanned. This flexibility can improve patient comfort and potentially the accuracy of images captured during MRI scans.<br /><br />4. The document also briefly addresses common issues such as image artifacts caused by various factors, like signal loss from a coil element or improper coil connector attachment, underscoring the importance of correct equipment handling and setup.<br /><br />5. It presents potential troubleshooting methods for determining the cause of deteriorating image quality, suggesting that using the RF coil quality assurance tool within the MRI system is the best approach. This ensures a systematic, automated evaluation of the equipment's performance.<br /><br />Overall, the guide aims to enhance understanding of RF coils, their benefits, application nuances, and problem-solving strategies within the MRI setting.

Keywords

MRI

radiofrequency coils

circularly polarized

multi-transmit coils

B1 field homogeneity

flexible coils

image artifacts

coil quality assurance

signal-to-noise ratio

patient comfort