Title: Electromagnetic method for sample-induced resistance calculation of magnetic resonance coils

Authors: Giulio Giovannetti, Vittorio Viti, Valentina Hartwig, Yongjun Liu, Wenhua Yu, Raj Mittra, Luigi Landini, Antonio Benassi

Addresses: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 S. Cataldo, Pisa, Italy. ' Esaote Biomedica, Via Siffredi 58, 16153 Genova, Italy. ' Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 S. Cataldo, Pisa, Italy. ' 319 Electrical Engineering East, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-2707, USA. ' 319 Electrical Engineering East, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-2707, USA. ' 319 Electrical Engineering East, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-2707, USA. ' Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Caruso, 56122 Pisa, Italy. ' Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 S. Cataldo, Pisa, Italy

Abstract: Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) calculation in Magnetic Resonance (MR) experiments requires the knowledge of biological sample-induced resistance value. Many authors studied sample–coil interaction by using quasi-static approach, with very simple coil and sample geometries; such method fails at high-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In this paper, we propose a theoretical algorithm for sample-induced resistance estimation, which uses a numerical solver based on Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method for simulating MR systems. Comparison with experimental data demonstrated the great accuracy of the developed algorithm. The proposed method can be used as a tool to estimate sample-induced resistance values for more complex geometries.

Keywords: SNR; signal-to-noise ratio; sample-induced resistance; electromagnetic simulation; finite-difference time-domain method; magnetic resonance coils; magnetic resonance imaging; MRI.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2010.034275

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2010 Vol.4 No.1, pp.18 - 28

Published online: 31 Jul 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article