Lu, Ming; Liang, Hao; Zhu, Haoqin; Yan, Xinqiang. “Magnetic field probe-based co-simulation method for irregular volume-type inductively coupled wireless MRI radiofrequency coils.” Magnetic Resonance Imaging, vol. 117, 2025, 110330, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mri.2025.110330.
Wireless coils are becoming increasingly popular in MRI because they are simpler and more cost-effective, avoiding the need for expensive components like preamplifiers and specialized circuits. However, existing tools for predicting how these coils will perform are designed for simple, cylindrical shapes, making them unsuitable for more complex coil designs. To address this limitation, this study introduces a new method that uses magnetic field probes to accurately predict the performance of irregularly shaped wireless coils. The goal is to make designing these coils easier, more reliable, and capable of delivering high-quality imaging.
The method involves creating a computer model of the coil, running detailed simulations, and using magnetic field probes to measure how the coil behaves. This data is then fed into an optimization process to fine-tune the design for the best possible performance. To test the method, the researchers built real coils with irregular shapes, such as bottle-shaped and dome-shaped designs, and evaluated their performance in MRI experiments. The results showed that the coils performed as expected, with consistent improvements in image quality. Compared to the standard MRI setup, these wireless coils boosted image quality significantly—by up to 13.4 times in some cases.
This new approach provides a practical and accurate solution for designing complex wireless coils for MRI. By combining simulations with real-world testing, it streamlines the design process while ensuring reliable performance. The method has the potential to improve MRI imaging quality significantly, benefiting both researchers and healthcare providers by enabling the development of better coils for more effective medical imaging.
Fig. 1. Workflow of the proposed H-field probe-based EM and RF circuit co-simulation method.
