Development and dynamic in vivo evaluation of a multi-channel stretchable self-tuning coil array

Motivation: Motivated by the limitations of traditional RF receive coils, this study aims to demonstrate in vivo imaging using a conformal and stretchable, self-tuning liquid metal coil array. Goal(s): This study’s goal was to demonstrate improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with the stretchable array compared to commercial coils. Approach: We designed and fabricated a one-dimensional 6-channel stretchable coil array and tested it in vitro and in healthy volunteers using standard knee imaging sequences. Results: In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated an SNR improvement of 4.7x over a dedicated commercial knee coil. Impact: Our self-tuning stretchable coil array allows for maximized SNR and improved image quality due to its conformal fit and minimized distance from the target anatomy. This concept could also allow for dynamic imaging, leading to enhanced, clinically relevant, MRI applications