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Sensitive enhancement of vessel wall imaging with an endoesophageal Wireless Amplified NMR Detector (WAND)
Author(s) -
Zeng Xianchun,
Barbic Mladen,
Chen Liangliang,
Qian Chunqi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.26562
Subject(s) - detector , electromagnetic coil , sensitivity (control systems) , amplifier , optics , resonator , materials science , nuclear magnetic resonance , magnetic resonance imaging , physics , optoelectronics , electronic engineering , cmos , radiology , medicine , engineering , quantum mechanics
Purpose To improve the imaging quality of vessel walls with an endoesophageal Wireless Amplified NMR Detector (WAND). Methods A cylindrically shaped double‐frequency resonator has been constructed with a single metal wire that is self‐connected by a pair of nonlinear capacitors. The double‐frequency resonator can convert wirelessly provided pumping power into amplified MR signals. This compact design makes the detector easily insertable into a rodent esophagus. Results The detector has good longitudinal and axial symmetry. Compared to an external surface coil, the WAND can enhance detection sensitivity by at least 5 times, even when the distance separation between the region of interest and the detector's cylindrical surface is twice the detector's own radius. Such detection capability enables us to observe vessel walls near the aortic arch and carotid bifurcation with elevated sensitivity. Conclusion A cylindrical MRI detector integrated with a wireless‐powered amplifier has been developed as an endoesophageal detector to enhance detection sensitivity of vessel walls. This detector can greatly improve the imaging quality for vessel regions that are susceptible to atherosclerotic lesions. Magn Reson Med 78:2048–2054, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.