Designing shielded radio-frequency phased-array coils for magnetic resonance imaging

In this paper, an approach to the design of shielded radio-frequency （RF） phased-array coils for magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） is proposed. The target field method is used to find current densities distributed on primary and shield coils. The stream function technique is used to discretize current densities and to obtain the winding patterns of the coils. The corresponding highly ill-conditioned integral equation is solved by the Tikhonov regularization with a penalty function related to the minimum curvature. To balance the simplicity and smoothness with the homogeneity of the magnetic field of the coll＇s winding pattern, the selection of a penalty factor is discussed in detail.

Multi-objective optimization of gradient coil for benchtop magnetic resonance imaging system with high-resolution

Significant high magnetic gradient field strength is essential to obtaining high-resolution images in a benchtop mag- netic resonance imaging （BT-MRI） system with permanent magnet. Extending minimum wire spacing and maximum wire width of gradient coils is one of the key solutions to minimize the maximum current density so as to reduce the local heating and generate higher magnetic field gradient strength. However, maximum current density is hard to optimize together with field linearity, stored magnetic energy, and power dissipation by the traditional target field method. In this paper, a new multi-objective method is proposed to optimize the maximum current density, field linearity, stored magnetic energy, and power dissipation in MRI gradient coils. The simulation and experimental results show that the minimum wire spacings are improved by 159% and 62% for the transverse and longitudinal gradient coil respectively. The maximum wire width increases from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Maximum gradient field strengths of 157 mT/m and 405 mT/m for transverse and lon- gitudinal coil are achieved, respectively. The experimental results in BT-MRI instrument demonstrate that the MRI images with in-plane resolution of 50 ~tm can be obtained by using the designed coils.

A novel radio frequency coil for veterinary magnetic resonance imaging system

In this article, a novel designed radio frequency （RF） coil is designed and built for the imaging of puppies in a V-shape permanent magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） system. Two sets of Helmholtz coil pairs with a V-shape structure are used to improve the holding of an animal in the coil. The homogeneity and the sensitivity of the RF field in the coil are analysed by theoretical calculation. The size and the shape of the new coil are optimized and validated by simulation through using the finite element method （FEM）. Good magnetic resonance （MR） images are achieved on a shepherd dog.

Stress and Thermal Analysis of the In-Vessel Resonant Magnetic Perturbation Coils on the J-TEXT Tokamak

A set of four in-vessel saddle coils was designed to generate a helical field on the J- TEXT tokamak to study the influences of the external perturbation field on plasma. The coils are fed with alternating current up to 10 kA at frequency up to 10 kHz. Due to the special structure, complex thermal environment and limited space in the vacuum chamber, Jt is very important to make sure that the coils will not be damaged when undergoing the huge electromagnetic forces in the strong toroidal field, and that their temperatures don＇t rise too much and destroy the in- sulation. A 3D finite element model is developed in this paper using the ANSYS code, stresses are analyzed to find the worst condition, and a mounting method is then established. The results of the stress and modal analyses show that the mounting method meets the strength requirements. Finally, a thermal analysis is performed to study the cooling process and the temperature distribution of the coils.

Design of small-scale gradient coils in magnetic resonance imaging by using the topology optimization method

A topology optimization method based on the solid isotropic material with penalization interpolation scheme is utilized for designing gradient coils for use in magnetic resonance microscopy.Unlike the popular stream function method,the proposed method has design variables that are the distribution of conductive material.A voltage-driven transverse gradient coil is proposed to be used as micro-scale magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)gradient coils,thus avoiding introducing a coil-winding pattern and simplifying the coil configuration.The proposed method avoids post-processing errors that occur when the continuous current density is approximated by discrete wires in the stream function approach.The feasibility and accuracy of the method are verified through designing the z-gradient and y-gradient coils on a cylindrical surface.Numerical design results show that the proposed method can provide a new coil layout in a compact design space.

Design of new resonant magnetic perturbation coils on the J-TEXT tokamak

The resonant magnetic perturbation(RMP)system is a powerful auxiliary system on tokamaks.On the J-TEXT tokamak,a set of new in-vessel coils is designed to enhance the amplitude of the RMP.The new coils are designed to be two-turn saddle coils.These two-turn saddle coils have been optimized in terms of their structure,support,and protection components to overcome the limitations of the narrow in-vessel space,resulting in a compact coil module that can be accommodated in the vessel.To verify the feasibility of this design,an electromagnetic simulation is performed to investigate the electrical parameters and the generated field of the coils.A multi-field coupled simulation is performed to investigate the capacity of heat dissipation.As a result of these efforts,the new RMP coils have been successfully installed on the J-TEXT tokamak.It has significantly enhanced the RMP amplitude and been widely applied in experiments.

COIL简化模型计算

采用简化动力学、增益模型 ,分析了常规虚共焦非稳腔和含屋脊镜折叠非稳腔这两种腔型在COIL 中的应用 ,计算表明 ,折叠腔在改善 COIL近场光强分布均匀性和提高近场输出功率方面明显优于常规腔。

二次喉道扩压器对COIL的影响实验

氧碘化学激光器分别采用二次喉道扩压器和8°扩压器时,对在不同阀门开度下的气流方向的壁面静压曲线和背压曲线,光轴壁面静压曲线,出口总压与上游压比值曲线,输出功率曲线进行了测量。对两种扩压器的数据进行了对比,结果表明:与8°扩压器相比,二次喉道扩压器能够有效隔离扩压器下游气流对光腔的干扰,显著减小捩区长度,并将转捩区控制在扩压器内。在激光器背压升高时,二次喉道扩压器的稳定性更强。

千瓦级COIL UR90实验研究

首次报导了千瓦级化学氧碘激光器（ＣＯＩＬ）采用束转动９０°环形非稳腔（ＵＲ９０）的实验结果，测量了输出光斑的近场相位分布及远场强度分布，当激光输出平均功率为２ｋＷ时。

基于标准差法与均方根法测算美国放射学会体模相控阵线圈MRI信噪比

目的比较标准差法与均方根法用于测算美国放射学会(ACR)体模相控阵线圈MRI信噪比(SNR)的价值。方法分别以头部线圈(Head)、腹部线圈(Anterior)、双片柔线圈(Flex L)及腹部线圈+柔线圈(Anterior+Flex L)对ACR体模进行6次重复扫描,序列包括轴位T1W-自旋回波(SE)和T2W-SE;根据所用线圈及扫描序列分为8组扫描方案。分别以标准差法与均方根法测算8组图像SNR,观察2种方法的差异。结果T1W-SE序列下,基于Head、Anterior、Flex L及Anterior+Flex L线圈MRI的SNR标准差法分别为1.25±0.07、0.56±0.02、1.15±0.10及1.04±0.11,SNR均方根法分别为1.10±0.07、0.58±0.03、1.01±0.13及1.31±0.15;T2W-SE序列的SNR标准差法分别为1.40±0.08、0.48±0.02、1.04±0.07及1.08±0.06,SNR均方根法分别为1.29±0.09、0.53±0.03、0.84±0.08及1.35±0.12。两两比较,9对SNR标准差法差异存在统计学意义(P均<0.05)、10对SNR均方根法差异存在统计学意义(P均<0.05)。结论相比标准差法,均方根法更适用于测算ACR体模相控阵线圈MRI的SNR。

基于边界元逆问题法的超低场磁共振大鼠脑部成像双通道射频线圈优化设计

目前超低场磁共振成像(MRI)质量较差,为提升图像信噪比,射频线圈需尽可能贴近成像区域从而提升信噪比。该文采用间接边界元法并从逆问题角度求出线圈流函数分布,再利用线性规划寻找最优线圈结构。为验证超低场MRI诊断颅脑疾病的有效性,采用上述方法,在54 mT下针对大鼠头-脑几何形状设计了双通道射频接收线圈,并对大鼠脑卒中及脑外伤模型进行成像试验研究。试验结果表明,54mTMRI能够检出水肿和血肿病变,且与病理切片或临床3T MRI图像结果相符。同时,通过脑外伤模型7天的追踪观察,54 mT图像中病变的信号演变规律与高场影像一致。针对特定成像对象和非规则布线曲面,该文利用间接边界元逆问题法设计高信噪比射频接收线圈,大鼠模型试验证明超低场磁共振成像技术具有脑卒中与脑外份早期诊断与床旁影像监护潜力与价值。

基于谐振网络控制策略的无线电能传输系统

为了提高无线电能传输系统的工作距离范围和效率,提出一种基于谐振网络控制策略的无线电能传输系统方案。该方案采用谐振电容控制电路和谐振电感控制电路来实现系统谐振频率的自适应匹配,进一步,通过对线圈的结构进行重构,优化线圈结构设计,调节不同距离下的互感和耦合系数,提高工作距离范围及功率传输性能。为了验证系统方案的可行性,首先通过磁场仿真和电路仿真进行验证,然后搭建无线电能传输样机进行性能测试。测试结果表明,相比于通用的无线电能传输系统,所提方案工作距离范围增加了50%,全距离范围内效率显著提升。

引射式气帘对COIL流场参数的影响

给出了氧碘化学激光器中,引射式气帘对激光器内各段压力与输出功率等参数的影响。研究结果表明:在COIL光腔中采用引射式气帘的作用方式,可以显著降低光腔段的总压损失,为激光器后的压力恢复系统减轻工作负荷;在高背压条件下,能够显著降低腔压,改善光腔静压的稳定性,提高激光器输出功率的稳定性。

层叠式多通道结构声学超材料宽带消声特性

将多通道结构逐层叠加构成一种声学超材料,采用理论分析、数值模拟和试验验证的方法研究了其消声特性和机理。为拓宽消声频带,运用遗传算法给出了腔体长度最佳组合方案并讨论了优化逻辑。结果表明,该结构可视为连接有多个旁支Helmholtz共鸣器的声波导管,其传递损失曲线上具有多个连续共振峰可实现宽频消声;适当调整腔体长宽、增加结构厚度、构建非均匀阵列可提高结构宽频消声性能;面向不同尺寸结构优化时,遗传算法始终通过尽可能多地创设具备更强消声能力的单体Helmholtz共鸣器,以获得最大消声带宽;试验结果验证了结构宽频消声有效性。该结果可为局促空间下管道消声提供借鉴。

Endorectal ultrasonography versus phased-array magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative staging of rectal cancer

AIM: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of pelvic phased-array magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and endorectal ultrasonography (ERUS) in the preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma. METHODS: Thirty-four patients (15 males, 19 females) with ages ranging between 29 and 75 who have biopsy proven rectal tumor underwent both MRI and ERUS examinations before surgery. All patients were evaluated to determine the diagnostic accuracy of depth of transmural tumor invasion and lymph node metastases. Imaging results were correlated with histopathological findings regarded as the gold standard and both modalities were compared in terms of predicting preoperative local staging of rectal carcinoma. RESULTS: The pathological T stage of the tumors was: pT1 in 1 patient, pT2 in 9 patients, pT3 in 21 patients and pT4 in 3 patients. The pathological N stage of the tumors was: pN0 in 19 patients, pN1 in 9 patients and pN2 in 6 patients. The accuracy of T staging for MRI was 89.70% (27 out of 34). The sensitivity was 79.41% and the specificity was 93.14%. The accuracy of T staging for ERUS was 85.29% (24 out of 34). The sensitivity was 70.59% and the specificity was 90.20%. Detection of lymph node metastases usingphased-array MRI gave an accuracy of 74.50% (21 out of 34). The sensitivity and specificity was found to be 61.76% and 80.88%, respectively. By using ERUS in the detection of lymph node metastases, an accuracy of 76.47% (18 out of 34) was obtained. The sensitivity and specificity were found to be 52.94% and 84.31%, respectively. CONCLUSION: ERUS and phased-array MRI are complementary methods in the accurate preoperative staging of rectal cancer. In conclusion, we can state that phased-array MRI was observed to be slightly superior in determining the depth of transmural invasion (T stage) and has same value in detecting lymph node metastases (N stage) as compared to ERUS.

Noise cancellation of a multi-reference full-wave magnetic resonance sounding signal based on a modified sigmoid variable step size least mean square algorithm

Nano-volt magnetic resonance sounding(MRS) signals are sufficiently weak so that during the actual measurement, they are affected by environmental electromagnetic noise, leading to inaccuracy of the extracted characteristic parameters and hindering effective inverse interpretation. Considering the complexity and non-homogeneous spatial distribution of environmental noise and based on the theory of adaptive noise cancellation, a model system for noise cancellation using multi-reference coils was constructed to receive MRS signals. The feasibility of this system with theoretical calculation and experiments was analyzed and a modified sigmoid variable step size least mean square(SVSLMS) algorithm for noise cancellation was presented. The simulation results show that, the multi-reference coil method performs better than the single one on both signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) improvement and signal waveform optimization after filtering, under the condition of different noise correlations in the reference coils and primary detecting coils and different SNRs. In particular, when the noise correlation is poor and the SNR<0, the SNR can be improved by more than 8 dB after filtering with multi-reference coils. And the average fitting errors for initial amplitude and relaxation time are within 5%. Compared with the normalized least mean square(NLMS) algorithm and multichannel Wiener filter and processing field test data, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified.

Shim coil design for Halbach magnet by equivalent magnetic dipole method

Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance magnet（2 MHz） is required for rock core analysis. However, due to its low field strength, it is hard to achieve a high uniform B0 field only by using the passive shimming. Therefore, active shimming is necessarily used to further improve uniformity for Halbach magnet. In this work, an equivalent magnetic dipole method is presented for designing shim coils. The minimization of the coil power dissipation is considered as an optimal object to minimize coil heating effect, and the deviation from the target field is selected as a penalty function term. The lsqnonlin optimization toolbox of MATLAB is used to solve the optimization problem. Eight shim coils are obtained in accordance with the contour of the stream function. We simulate each shim coil by ANSYS Maxwell software to verify the validity of the designed coils. Measurement results of the field distribution of these coils are consistent with those of the target fields.The uniformity of the B0 field is improved from 114.2 ppm to 26.9 ppm after using these shim coils.

Recent Advances in ^(19)Fluorine Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Perfluorocarbon Emulsions

The research roots of 19fluorine （19F） magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） date back over 35 years. Over that time span, 1H imaging flourished and was adopted worldwide with an endless array of applications and imaging approaches, making magnetic resonance an indispensable pillar of biomedical diagnostic imaging. For many years during this timeframe, 19F imaging research continued at a slow pace as the various attributes of the technique were explored. However, over the last decade and particularly the last several years, the pace and clinical relevance of 19F imaging has exploded. In part, this is due to advances in MRI instrumentation, ~gF/1H coil designs, and ultrafast pulse sequence development for both preclinical and clinical scanners. These achievements, coupled with interest in the molecular imaging of anatomy and physiology, and combined with a cadre of innovative agents, have brought the concept of ~gF into early clinical evaluation. In this review, we attempt to provide a slice of this rich history of research and development, with a particular focus on liquid perfluorocarbon compound-based agents.

Fatigue Life Analysis of Coiled Tubing in Deep Well Jet Plugging Removal

The coiled tubing plugging has become the main means of plugging in gas Wells in Xinjiang. These Wells are deep and have high pressure, which can easily affect the fatigue life of the operating coiled tubing. In order to improve the life of coiled tubing in high-pressure gas Wells, this paper studies the plugging conditions of coiled tubing in high-pressure ultra-deep Wells. Firstly, the cross section deformation of coiled tubing under high internal pressure is analyzed. Secondly, the factors influencing the fatigue life of coiled tubing and the influence of surface damage on the fatigue life of coiled tubing were studied. Finally, the mechanism of furrow damage caused by coiled tubing and the main measures to reduce furrow damage are analyzed. The following suggestions are made to improve the life of coiled tubing: select the right material and the right size coiled tubing;Use appropriate measures to prevent premature coiled tubing failure and reduce operating costs.

基于自谐振线圈参数优化的多中继无线供电系统效率提升研究

印刷电路板(printed circuitboard,PCB)自谐振线圈可以避免绕线引起的偏差,且不受分立补偿电容的影响,应用在多中继无线供电系统中极具前景。针对PCB自谐振线圈结构参数优化不完全所导致的多中继无线供电系统传输效率低下的问题,该文给出了一种用以提升系统传输效率的PCB自谐振线圈结构参数优化设计方法。首先,建立了多中继无线供电系统的传输效率模型,并分析了线圈的电参数对传输效率的影响机理;其次,详细推导了线圈电参数与线圈的匝数、介质厚度、线宽、铜箔厚度、介质损耗角正切值以及介电常数之间的关系;然后,基于上述关系,以传输效率最高为目标,优化了线圈参数;最后,利用优化后的PCB自谐振线圈搭建了一套五线圈无线供电系统实验样机。实验结果表明,采用优化后的PCB自谐振线圈传输效率最高可达76.5%,相比优化前33.1%的传输效率,提高了43.4%。