Reproducible and highly miniaturized bazooka RF Balun using a printed capacitor

Lu, Ming, Yang, Yijin, Chai, Shuyang, & Yan, Xinqiang. (2024). Reproducible and highly miniaturized bazooka RF Balun using a printed capacitor. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.30268

This study focuses on advancing MRI technology by improving a critical component known as the balun, which plays a key role in reducing interference and boosting signal clarity. The need for lighter, flexible, and high-density RF coils in MRI systems is driving this innovation. The researchers introduce a new method for creating compact, highly reproducible baluns using printed coaxial capacitors. This design achieves greater capacitance in a smaller space, significantly reducing the balun’s size while maintaining its ability to reject unwanted electrical signals.

Extensive testing and simulations at various MRI field strengths (1.5T, 3T, and 7T) demonstrate that these miniaturized baluns perform exceptionally well. Even when positioned near the MRI sample, the baluns did not distort the RF field, making them ideal for use in flexible and wearable MRI coils, as well as in high-density configurations commonly used in high-field MRI systems. The printed capacitors not only enable a shorter, more compact design but also ensure that the manufacturing process is consistent and highly reproducible.

Overall, this work simplifies the production of baluns while maintaining performance standards, potentially transforming how MRI coils are designed. The flexibility, durability, and precision of these baluns open the door to more advanced, efficient, and lightweight MRI technologies, which could significantly improve imaging quality and patient comfort in future medical applications.