The Combined Use of Dual-Tuned 1H/2H Coils and Metamaterial Coils for Enhanced UHF Imaging Performance in Mice

Motivation: Hydrogen-deuterium dual-nuclear imaging provides structural and metabolic data, but sensitivity and abundance differences can limit imaging quality. Upgrading the coil structure is necessary to enhance both hydrogen and deuterium imaging performance. Goal(s): The goal of this study is to improve hydrogen-deuterium dual-nuclear imaging performance by optimizing the coil structure and the relative placement of the coils. Approach: We propose integrating a dual-tuned metamaterial coil with a hydrogen-deuterium receiver coil to enhance imaging, optimizing coil spacing for better performance, validated through phantom experiments. Results: The proposed novel coil structure can enhance imaging performance at ultra-high fields (11.7T). Impact: The research results indicate that introducing the metamaterial coil enhances hydrogen-deuterium dual-nuclear imaging. To reduce the impact of coil coupling on imaging, further studies are needed. Future animal experiments on mouse brains will provide insights for research on human brain .