Adaptable Twenty-Channel Supine Breast Coil for MRI

Motivation: Conventional MRI breast screening is performed in the prone position with rigid RF coils. These coils are uncomfortable and imaging area limited by patient size and positioning. Goal(s): Our goals were to improve patient comfort, accommodate varying breast sizes, and provide faster screening through an adaptable breast coil utilizing stretchable elements. Approach: A 20-channel breast coil was created with stretchable elements to accommodate varying bust sizes. Bench and phantom scans comparisons were made against an industry-standard flexible coil. Results: Compared to industry-standard, highly-flexible coils, this coil demonstrated better adaptability to larger breasts, with improved sensitivity along the breast contour, and better acceleration. Impact: Compared to the use of a traditional flexible coil of similar channel count for supine breast imaging, this coil can adapt to a wider range of breast sizes with easier setup, enhanced patient comfort, and performs better at greater acceleration.