A Head-Cap RF-Coil Array to Enable Comfortable Sleep and Concurrent TMS/EEG/fMRI

Motivation: To address the limitations of performing whole night uninterrupted sleep studies and concurrent TMS/EEG/fMRI in an MR environment. Goal(s): To develop an advanced 25-channel ultra-thin Head-Cap RF-Coil Array that provides full brain coverage, durability, and EEG/TMS compatibility with minimal performance degradation. Approach: An ultra-thin and modular Head-Cap Array is designed using 25 reinforced Twstr elements arranged in a "soccer-ball" geometry with adjustable cable routes to accommodate the needs of a study. Results: The Head-Cap demonstrates improved performance when compared to a standard head array, provides comfort and unrestricted head placement for sleep with minimal reduction in performance when used with EEG or TMS. Impact: This Head-Cap Array could enable prolonged overnight sleep studies and concurrent TMS/EEG/fMRI allowing researchers to study neural dynamics during sleep, and monitor the causal effects of TMS with minor reduction in imaging performance.