Design and construction of a novel 1H/19F double-tuned coil system using PIN-diode switches at 9.4T.

A double-tuned 1H/19F coil using PIN-diode switches was developed and its performance evaluated. The is a key difference from the previous developments being that this design used a PIN-diode switch in series with an additionally inserted inductor in parallel to one of the capacitors on the loop. The probe was adjusted to 19F when the reverse bias voltage was applied (PIN-diode OFF), whilst it was switched to 1H when forward current was flowing (PIN-diode ON). S-parameters and Q-factors of single- and double-tuned coils were examined and compared with/without a phantom on the bench. Imaging experiments were carried out on a 9.4T preclinical scanner. All coils were tuned at resonance frequencies and matched well. It is shown that the Q-ratio and SNR of double-tuned coil at 19F frequency are nearly as good as those of a single-tuned coil. Since the operating frequency was tuned to 19F when the PIN-diodes were turned off, losses due to PIN-diodes were substantially lower resulting in the provision of excellent image quality of X-nuclei.