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A prototype RF dosimeter for independent measurement of the average specific absorption rate (SAR) during MRI
Author(s) -
Stralka John P,
Bottomley Paul A
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.21141
Subject(s) - dosimeter , scanner , specific absorption rate , transducer , calibration , torso , dosimetry , signal (programming language) , materials science , nuclear medicine , acoustics , biomedical engineering , physics , computer science , optics , medicine , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , antenna (radio) , anatomy , programming language
Purpose To develop a scanner‐independent dosimeter for measuring the average radio frequency (RF) power deposition and specific absorption rates (SAR) for human MRI exposure. Materials and Methods A prototype dosimeter has a transducer with orthogonal conducting loops surrounding a small signal‐generating MRI sample. The loops contain resistors whose values are adjusted to load the scanner's MRI coils equivalent to an average head or body during MRI. The scanner adjusts its power output to normal levels during setup, using the MRI sample. Following calibration, the total power and average SAR deposited in the transducer are measured from the root‐mean‐square (rms) power induced in the transducer during MRI. Results A 1.5 Tesla head transducer was adjusted to elicit the same load as the average of nine adult volunteers. Once adjusted, the transducer loads other head coils the same as the head does. The dosimeter is calibrated at up to 20 W total deposited power and 4.5 W/kg SAR in the average head, with about 5% accuracy. Conclusion This dosimeter provides a simple portable means of measuring the power deposited in a body‐equivalent sample load, independent of the scanner. Further work will develop SAR dosimetry for the torso and for higher fields. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:1296–1302. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.