Abstract
In Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a volume coil is omen used to uniformly illuminate the sample being imaged with radio-frequency (RF) energy and then to receive the resulting MR signal. The coil is expected to achieve a high signal to noise ratio (SNR), produce a uniform field, and be able to handle the power required during excitation. Each of these factors are affected by coil design parameters. The most important of these are sample radius, coil radius, shield radius, and sample loading. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the elect of these design parameters on coil SNR, coil homogeneity, and power handling, and to develop on optimization procedure as an aid in the design of coils for a specific application. This will be done by developing an accurate model of the birdcage coil which includes these parameters. This model will then be used to investigate the effects of changing these parameters on coil performance. Finally, an optimization procedure based on this model will be developed and used as an aid in the design of new coils for specific applications.
Spence, Dan Kenrick (1999). A method for the optimization of the birdcage coil in MRI. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1999 -THESIS -S685.