Stretchable self-tuning MRI receive coils based on liquid metal technology (LiquiTune)

Stretchable self-tuning MRI receive coils based on liquid metal technology (LiquiTune)

July 8, 2021 | Elizaveta Motovilova, Ek Tsoon Tan, Victor Taracila, Jana M. Vincent, Thomas Grafendorfer, James Shin, Hollis G. Potter, Fraser J. L. Robb, Darryl B. Sneag, Simone A. Winkler
This study introduces a novel stretchable and self-tuning MRI receive coil based on liquid metal and ultra-stretchable polymer, designed to conform to various anatomies and maintain stable resonance frequency despite stretching. The coil utilizes a smart geometry that enables self-tuning, reducing resonance frequency shifts caused by stretching. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations confirmed that the proposed coil maintains a stable resonance frequency with less than 0.4% frequency detuning, compared to 4% for a comparable control coil. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the proposed coil increased by up to 60% compared to a typical rigid commercial coil. The coil is fabricated using a stretchable polymer matrix with liquid metal conductors, allowing it to conform to different body shapes and sizes. The smart geometry of the coil helps maintain resonance frequency stability even when stretched. The coil was tested in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating improved SNR and frequency stability. In vivo imaging showed a 60% increase in SNR compared to a dedicated knee coil. The coil's design allows for dynamic and kinematic imaging of various body positions, such as the knee or wrist, at a wide range of flexion angles. The proposed coil design offers a pathway towards highly flexible and conformal MRI coils that provide increased SNR, facilitate dynamic imaging, and improve patient comfort. The study also highlights the potential of liquid metal and ultra-stretchable polymers in MRI coil design, with the proposed coil showing improved performance compared to existing commercial coils. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed concept, with the coil providing increased SNR, stretchability, and frequency stability. Future work will focus on multi-channel array designs and further optimization of the coil's performance.This study introduces a novel stretchable and self-tuning MRI receive coil based on liquid metal and ultra-stretchable polymer, designed to conform to various anatomies and maintain stable resonance frequency despite stretching. The coil utilizes a smart geometry that enables self-tuning, reducing resonance frequency shifts caused by stretching. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations confirmed that the proposed coil maintains a stable resonance frequency with less than 0.4% frequency detuning, compared to 4% for a comparable control coil. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the proposed coil increased by up to 60% compared to a typical rigid commercial coil. The coil is fabricated using a stretchable polymer matrix with liquid metal conductors, allowing it to conform to different body shapes and sizes. The smart geometry of the coil helps maintain resonance frequency stability even when stretched. The coil was tested in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating improved SNR and frequency stability. In vivo imaging showed a 60% increase in SNR compared to a dedicated knee coil. The coil's design allows for dynamic and kinematic imaging of various body positions, such as the knee or wrist, at a wide range of flexion angles. The proposed coil design offers a pathway towards highly flexible and conformal MRI coils that provide increased SNR, facilitate dynamic imaging, and improve patient comfort. The study also highlights the potential of liquid metal and ultra-stretchable polymers in MRI coil design, with the proposed coil showing improved performance compared to existing commercial coils. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed concept, with the coil providing increased SNR, stretchability, and frequency stability. Future work will focus on multi-channel array designs and further optimization of the coil's performance.
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