Size‐adaptable 13‐channel receive array for brain MRI in human neonates at 3 T

Abstract

Neonatal brain injury suffered by preterm infants and newborns with some medical conditions can cause significant neurodevelopmental disabilities. MRI is a preferred method to detect these accidents and perform in vivo evaluation of the brain. However, the commercial availability and optimality of receive coils for the neonatal brain is limited, which in many cases leads to images lacking in quality. As extensively demonstrated, receive arrays closely positioned around the scanned part provide images with high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). The present work proposes a pneumatic-based MRI receive array that can physically adapt to infant head dimensions from 27-week premature to 1.5 months old. Average SNR increases of up to 68% in the head region and 122% in the cortex region, compared with a 32-channel commercial head coil, were achieved at 3 T. The consistent SNR distribution obtained through the complete coil size range, specifically in the cortex, allows the acquisition of images with similar quality across a range of head dimensions, which is not possible with fixed-size coils due to the variable coil-to-head distance. The risks associated with mechanical pressure on the neonatal head are minimal and the head motion is restricted. The method could be used in coil designs for other age groups, body parts and subjects.

MRI of the Neonatal Brain: A Review of Methodological Challenges and Neuroscientific Advances

“…This issue requires adapting the acquisition sequences to obtain relevant and sufficient image contrast. Using dedicated coils, with optimized size in relation to the size of the head to be imaged, also makes it possible to maximize the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) in the images 28–30 with a gain greater than x2, depending on the brain regions and their proximity to the coil elements. Considering dedicated image postprocessing tools is also required to deal with the signal and contrast specificities of newborn images.…”

Impacts of skull stripping on construction of three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging-based brain structural network in full-term neonates

“…In this regard, MRI acquisition settings including the specific head coil and scanning parameters should be adjusted for neonates. In detail, a neonatal head coil with appropriate size and high signal-to-noise ratio, as well as the use of appropriate scanning parameters (e.g., smaller FOV, longer repetition time and echo time than adult scanning) would facilitate the signal acquisition [23,25]. By comparing the three workflows, we found that slight adjustment for skull stripping would remarkably affect the calculations of regional brain volume.…”

Impacts of skull stripping on construction of three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging-based brain structural network in full-term neonates

“…In details, a neonatal head coil with appropriate size and high signal-to-noise ratio, as well as the use of appropriate scanning parameters (e.g. smaller FOV, longer repetition time and echo time than adult scanning) would facilitate the signal acquisition [23,25].…”