A 16-channel loop array for in vivo macaque whole-brain imaging at 7 T

Feiyang Lou; Xiaocui Tang; Zhiyan Quan; Meizhen Qian; Jianbao Wang; Shuxian Qu; Yang Gao; Yueming Wang; Gang Pan; Hsin-Yi Lai; Anna Wang Roe; Xiaotong Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.mri.2023.06.014

A 16-channel loop array for in vivo macaque whole-brain imaging at 7 T

Magn Reson Imaging. 2023 Oct:102:179-183. doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2023.06.014. Epub 2023 Jun 23.

Authors

Feiyang Lou¹, Xiaocui Tang¹, Zhiyan Quan², Meizhen Qian³, Jianbao Wang³, Shuxian Qu², Yang Gao⁴, Yueming Wang⁵, Gang Pan⁶, Hsin-Yi Lai⁷, Anna Wang Roe⁷, Xiaotong Zhang⁸

Affiliations

¹ The Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
² The Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
³ The Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
⁴ The Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; College of Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
⁵ Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; State Key Lab of CAD&CG, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
⁶ The State Key Lab of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
⁷ The Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
⁸ The Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; College of Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Electronic address: zhangxiaotong@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 37356599
DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2023.06.014

Abstract

Combining multimodal approaches with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has catapulted the research on brain circuitries of non-human primates (NHPs) into a new era. However, many studies are constrained by a lack of appropriate RF coils. In this study, a single loop transmit and 16-channel receive array coil was constructed for brain imaging of macaques at 7 Tesla (7 T). The 16 receive channels were mounted on a 3D-printed helmet-shaped form closely fitting the macaque head, with fourteen openings arranged for multimodal devices around the cortical regions. Coil performance was evaluated by quantifying and comparing signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) maps, noise correlations, g-factor maps and flip-angle maps with a 28-channel commercial knee coil. The in vivo results suggested that the macaque coil has higher SNR in cortical regions and better acceleration ability in parallel imaging, which may benefit revealing mesoscale organizations in the brain.

Keywords: 7 T; Multimodal neuroimaging; Non-human primates; RF coil.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain* / diagnostic imaging
Equipment Design
Head
Macaca*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Neuroimaging / methods
Phantoms, Imaging
Signal-To-Noise Ratio