Wood, Sossena
(2019)
Anthropomorphic Phantom Developments for the Characterization and Evaluations of MRI RF Coils.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Over the past few decades, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI/MR) has proven to be one of the most resourceful diagnostic tools to non-invasively exam various parts of the human body. As MRI technology improved, research scanners were developed at greater field strengths to offer greater resolution and improved tissue contrast in comparison to clinical MR machines. In late 2017, the FDA approved the first clinical 7 Tesla (T) MR scanner, Siemens MAGNETOM Terra. The FDA’s approval met the scientific demand for 7T MR imaging and ultra-high field (UHF) (≥ 7 Tesla) imaging’s growing capability to detect human disease and tissue damage within the human body. While these machines offer promise, there are several issues experienced at higher field strengths that hinder its clinical feasibility. UHF MRI is presented with challenges such as 1) magnetic field (B1+) homogeneity, 2) increased global/local specific absorption rate (SAR) in biological tissue, and (3) addressing concerns regarding the unclear RF safety assurance due to temperature rise at UHF.
To address these challenges, the work of this dissertation develops tools to characterize RF coil designs for RF engineers. These tools are realized through hardware and software developments including a realistic anthropomorphic heterogeneous human head phantom and other software methodologies for the evaluation of RF coil designs.
The results and the broad conclusion will support our long-term goal of achieving homogeneity and minimized RF power absorption at 7T in-vivo and further the UHF MRI community’s understanding of 7T imaging. Thus, progress in this proposed work strengthens 7T’s potential clinical feasibility and its ability to detect human disease and premature symptoms of brain damage.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
24 January 2019 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
6 November 2018 |
| Approval Date: |
24 January 2019 |
| Submission Date: |
29 November 2018 |
| Access Restriction: |
2 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 2 years. |
| Number of Pages: |
316 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Swanson School of Engineering > Bioengineering |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Head Phantom, 7 Tesla, Ultra high field, MRI, B1 Mapping, FDTD, thermal mapping, Penne's Bioheat, RF coil, Tic-Tac-Toe |
| Date Deposited: |
24 Jan 2019 14:37 |
| Last Modified: |
24 Jan 2021 06:15 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/34878 |
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