A flowerpot-shaped birdcage coil designed for breast MRI at 0.35T

Motivation: Low-field MRI breast screening is important for the well-being of women. However, the vertical orientation of the B0 field restricts the coil design. Goal(s): To design a breast coil for low-field MR system that improves the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) and receiving sensitivity(RS) while conforming to the anatomical features of breast. Approach: We designed an improved birdcage structure for breast imaging. It adapts to the breast shape and enhances SNR. Additionally, we used metamaterial to further improve image quality. Results: The average SNR of flowerpot coil is 162, which is approximately 1.45 times higher than the commercial coil. The Q-ratio, approximately 1.30, indicates good RS. Impact: We proposed a novel flowerpot-shaped birdcage coil for breast MRI using metamaterials in a 0.35T system, resulting in an improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and receiving sensitivity(RS).