Wyger M Brink1, Zhiyi Wu1, Andrew G Webb1. 1. C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRI, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To demonstrate a simple head-sized phantom for realistic static and RF field characterization in high field systems. METHODS: The head-sized phantom was composed of an ellipsoidal compartment and a spherical cavity to mimic the nasal cavity. The phantom was filled with an aqueous solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), to mimic the average dielectric properties of brain tissue. The static and RF field distributions were characterized on a 7T MRI system and compared to in vivo measurements and simulations. MR thermometry was performed, and the results were compared to thermal simulations for RF validation purposes. RESULTS: Accurate reproduction of both static and RF fields patterns observed in vivo was confirmed experimentally and was shown to be strongly affected by the inclusion of the spherical cavity. MR thermometry and transmit efficiency ( B1+) measurements were obtained in close agreement with simulations (peak values agreeing within 0.3 °C and 0.02 μT/√W) as well as fiber optic thermal probes (RMSE < 0.18 °C). CONCLUSIONS: A simple head-sized phantom has been presented that produces B0 and B1+ nonuniformities similar to those encountered in the human head and allows for accurate MR thermometry measurements, making this a suitable reference phantom for RF validation and methodological development in high field MRI.
PURPOSE: To demonstrate a simple head-sized phantom for realistic static and RF field characterization in high field systems. METHODS: The head-sized phantom was composed of an ellipsoidal compartment and a spherical cavity to mimic the nasal cavity. The phantom was filled with an aqueous solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), to mimic the average dielectric properties of brain tissue. The static and RF field distributions were characterized on a 7T MRI system and compared to in vivo measurements and simulations. MR thermometry was performed, and the results were compared to thermal simulations for RF validation purposes. RESULTS: Accurate reproduction of both static and RF fields patterns observed in vivo was confirmed experimentally and was shown to be strongly affected by the inclusion of the spherical cavity. MR thermometry and transmit efficiency ( B1+) measurements were obtained in close agreement with simulations (peak values agreeing within 0.3 °C and 0.02 μT/√W) as well as fiber optic thermal probes (RMSE < 0.18 °C). CONCLUSIONS: A simple head-sized phantom has been presented that produces B0 and B1+ nonuniformities similar to those encountered in the human head and allows for accurate MR thermometry measurements, making this a suitable reference phantom for RF validation and methodological development in high field MRI.
Authors: Andrew J Fagan; Paul S Jacobs; Thomas C Hulshizer; Phillip J Rossman; Matthew A Frick; Kimberly K Amrami; Joel P Felmlee Journal: Med Phys Date: 2020-12-31 Impact factor: 4.071
Authors: Wyger M Brink; Sahar Yousefi; Prernna Bhatnagar; Rob F Remis; Marius Staring; Andrew G Webb Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2022-03-28 Impact factor: 3.737