Four-channel receiver coil array for focused ultrasound spine imaging

Motivation: MRI with the focused ultrasound treatment on the spine has low image quality, presumably due to a tailored receiver coil array. Goal(s): A receiver coil array for 3T MRI is developed to image the spine of a large animal during focused ultrasound (FUS) treatment using a flat, large-aperture (25 cm diameter) phased array transducer. Approach: A 4-channel receiver coil array was built with a housing curved to conform to the back of the specimen. Results: Structural images with T1- and T2-weighted contrast confirmed an SNR gain of approximately 50% using this coil array compared with images acquired using a body coil. Impact: The FUS-compatible spine MRI receiver coil array will enhance visualization of BSCB openings. As a clinical application, this coil array will also alleviate intraprocedural imaging challenges.