Purpose: To extend the coverage of brain coil arrays to the neck and cervical–spine region to enable combined head and neck imaging at 7 Tesla (T) ultra‐high field MRI.Methods: The coil array structures of a 64‐channel receive coil and a 16‐channel transmit coil were merged into one anatomically shaped close‐fitting housing. Transmit characteristics were evaluated in a B₁⁺‐field mapping study and an electromagnetic model. Receive SNR and the encoding capability for accelerated imaging were evaluated and compared with a commercially available 7 T brain array coil. The performance of the head–neck array coil was demonstrated in human volunteers using high‐resolution accelerated imaging.Results: In the brain, the SNR matches the commercially available 32‐channel brain array and showed improvements in accelerated imaging capabilities. More importantly, the constructed coil array improved the SNR in the face area, neck area, and cervical spine by a factor of 1.5, 3.4, and 5.2, respectively, in regions not covered by 32‐channel brain arrays at 7 T. The interelement coupling of the 16‐channel transmit coil ranged from −14 to −44 dB (mean = −19 dB, adjacent elements <−18 dB). The parallel 16‐channel transmit coil greatly facilitates B₁⁺ field shaping required for large FOV neuroimaging at 7 T.Conclusion: This new head–neck array coil is the first demonstration of a device of this nature used for combined full‐brain, head–neck, and cervical‐spine imaging at 7 T. The array coil is well suited to provide large FOV images, which potentially improves ultrahigh field neuroimaging applications for clinical settings.

Purpose: Three 64‐channel cardiac coils with different detector array configurations were designed and constructed to evaluate acceleration capabilities in simultaneous multislice (SMS) imaging for 3T cardiac MRI.Methods: Three 64‐channel coil array configurations obtained from a simulation‐guided design approach were constructed and systematically evaluated regarding their encoding capabilities for accelerated SMS cardiac acquisitions at 3T. Array configuration A_Uni‐sized consists of uniformly distributed equally sized loops in an overlapped arrangement, B_Gapped uses a gapped array design with symmetrically distributed equally sized loops, and C_Dense has non‐uniform loop density and size, where smaller elements were centered over the heart and larger elements were placed surrounding the target region. To isolate the anatomic variation from differences in the coil configurations, all three array coils were built with identical semi‐adjustable housing segments. The arrays’ performance was compared using bench‐level measurements and imaging performance tests, including signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) maps, array element noise correlation, and SMS acceleration capabilities. Additionally, all cardiac array coils were evaluated on a healthy volunteer.Results: The array configuration C_Dense with the non‐uniformly distributed loop density showed the best overall cardiac imaging performance in both SNR and SMS encoding power, when compared to the other constructed arrays. The diffusion weighted cardiac acquisitions on a healthy volunteer support the favorable accelerated SNR performance of this array configuration.Conclusion: Our results indicate that optimized highly parallel cardiac arrays, such as the 64‐channel coil with a non‐uniform loop size and density improve highly accelerated SMS cardiac MRI in comparison to symmetrically distributed loop array designs.

Purpose: To develop and test two high‐density MRI coil arrays with integrated field monitoring systems for enhanced diffusion imaging with strong diffusion‐sensitizing gradients.Methods: Two multichannel head coils were constructed for first‐ and second‐generation 3T Connectome MRI scanners, incorporating 64 and 72 receive channels, respectively. The array coils were evaluated using RF bench‐level metrics, including quality factor, tuning, matching, and coupling measurements. Imaging performance was comprehensively assessed through metrics such as SNR, efficiency, and inter‐channel noise correlations, and compared with and without field camera integration. Parallel imaging capability was evaluated using geometry (g)‐factors. The field camera performance was characterized by quantifying phase errors and field probe FID lifetimes. In vivo DWI acquisitions with high ‐values were performed to evaluate the system's ability to correct higher‐order field perturbations.Results: The developed arrays demonstrated up to 1.4‐fold higher SNR and superior g‐factor performance when compared to a commercially available 32‐channel head coil. Integration of the field camera was achieved without compromising the performance of either system. In vivo imaging with concurrent field monitoring enabled accurate spatiotemporal field corrections, significantly reducing geometric distortions, blurring, and ghosting in high ‐value DWI.Conclusion: The integration of high‐density MRI arrays with field monitoring systems facilitated the capture and correction of spatiotemporal field perturbations during strong gradient activity, substantially enhancing image quality and diffusion parameter mapping quality. These advancements provide a robust platform for exploring the structural intricacies of the human connectome.

Purpose: High‐resolution ex vivo diffusion‐weighted imaging (dMRI) with high ‐values presents significant challenges, including low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), magnetic field perturbations, and temperature‐related measurement shifts. This work introduces a hardware‐based solution to address these limitations in human ex vivo brain imaging.Methods: A customized anatomically conformal 64‐channel receive array coil with a dedicated Tx birdcage coil was developed for 3T diffusion‐weighted imaging of whole human ex vivo brain specimens. Field monitoring capabilities were integrated to correct spatiotemporal field perturbations caused by gradient‐induced eddy currents. Temperature stability throughout extended acquisition periods was achieved through an integrated stabilization system. Coil performance was validated through comprehensive measurement of SNR, g‐factor maps, field camera free induction decays (FIDs), temperature, mean diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy across multiple diffusion‐weighted scans.Results: The system demonstrated 73% higher SNR compared with a 72‐channel in vivo head coil. Integration of the field camera maintained its FID quality without SNR penalties or significant receive coil coupling effects. Temperature stabilization improved the reliability of quantitative diffusion‐weighted measurements by eliminating measurement drift during a 13‐hour acquisition, where mean diffusivity and mean kurtosis would have increased by 22% and decreased by 19%, respectively.Conclusion: We describe an integrated hardware approach for addressing higher order field perturbations, thermal instability, and SNR challenges in human ex vivo whole brain dMRI under high‐diffusion sensitizing gradient conditions. This approach combines an anatomically optimized multichannel receive array, concurrent field monitoring, and active temperature stabilization. Enhanced image quality and improved reliability of quantitative MR imaging were demonstrated with this comprehensive hardware solution.

Purpose: To develop and test an MRI coil assembly for imaging deep brain stimulation (DBS) at 3 T with a reduced level of local specific absorption rate of RF fields near the implant.Methods: A mechanical rotatable linearly polarized birdcage transmitter outfitted with a 32‐channel receive array was constructed. The coil performance and image quality were systematically evaluated using bench‐level measurements and imaging performance tests, including SNR maps, array element noise correlation, and acceleration capabilities. Electromagnetic simulations and phantom experiments were performed with clinically relevant DBS device configurations to evaluate the reduction of specific absorption rate and temperature near the implant compared with a circular polarized body coil setup.Results: The linearly polarized birdcage coil features a block‐shaped low electric field region to be co‐aligned with the implanted DBS lead trajectory, while the close‐fit receive array enables imaging with high SNR and enhanced encoding capabilities.Conclusion: The 3T coil assembly, consisting of a rotating linear birdcage and a 32‐channel close‐fit receive array, showed DBS‐conditioned imaging technology with substantially reduced heat generation at the DBS implants.

The literature reports on radiofrequency (RF) transmit (Tx) elements tailored for ultrahigh-field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed confounded reproducibility due to variations in simulation tools, modeling assumptions, and meshing techniques. This study proposes a standardized methodology to improve reproducibility and consistency across research sites (testers) and simulation tools (testing conditions). The methodology includes detailed simulation workflow and performance metrics for RF Tx elements. The impact of the used mesh setting is assessed. Following the methodology, a reproducibility study was conducted using CST Microwave Studio Suite, HFSS, and Sim4Life. The methodology and simulations were ultimately validated through 7 T MRI phantom experiments. The reproducibility study showed consistent performance with less than 6% standard deviation for B₁⁺ fields and 12% for peak SAR averaged over 10 g tissue (pSAR_10g). The SAR efficiency metric (|B₁⁺|/√pSAR_10g) was particularly robust (<5%). The simulated and experimental |B₁⁺| maps showed good qualitative agreement. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a standardized methodology for achieving reproducible RF Tx element electromagnetic field simulations. By following the FAIR principles including making the framework publicly available, we promote transparency and collaboration within the MRI community, supporting the advancement of technological innovation and improving patient safety in UHF-MRI.