Quantitative assessment of phased array coils with different numbers of receiving channels in terms of signal-to-noise ratio and spatial noise variation in magnetic resonance imaging

The neuroimaging of humans using 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been conducted using phased array (PA) coils with different numbers of receiving channels. PA coils with a high number of channels may offer parallel imaging (PI) with a high reduction (R)-factor, which is enabled via under-sampling and coil geometry (g) factor, increasing the radiofrequency signal sensitivity provided by a small coil. The goals of this study were to assess and validate the coil performance of PA coils with different numbers of receiver (Rx)-channels in and to propose the coil selection guidelines by visualizing 7T brain images. The combined magnetic flux density (||B(1)||) distributions of four configurations of PA coils—4-, 8-, 12-, and 16-channel Rx-only mode under the local transmit (Tx) mode of birdcage coils—were evaluated using electromagnetic (EM) calculations. These four configurations of PA coils and a local Tx coil were designed and built for a 7T MRI experiment. For 7T brain imaging experiments, all PA coils with (w/) and without (w/o) R-factors were compared in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spatial noise variation (SNV). EM simulation results clearly demonstrated that PA coils with a high number of Rx channels showed more homogeneously distributed ||B(1)|| fields than a PA coils with a low number of Rx coils. The results of this study demonstrate that a collection of smaller surface coils can contribute to high RF signal sensitivity in terms of the anatomical coverage of the brain and may facilitate PI. With further improvement in coil technology, researchers and clinicians will be provided with PA coils with different numbers of channels, which can ensure the optimum SNR and PI benefits for 7T brain MR imaging.