Purpose In this study, we investigate a strategy to reduce the local specific absorption rate (SAR) while keeping B1+ constant inside the region of interest (ROI) at the ultra‐high field (B0 ≥ 7T) MRI. Methods Locally raising the resonance structure under the discontinuity (i.e., creating a bump) increases the distance between the accumulated charges and the tissue. As a result, it reduces the electric field and local SAR generated by these charges inside the tissue. The B1+ at a point that is sufficiently far from the coil, however, is not affected by this modification. In this study, three different resonant elements (i.e., loop coil, snake antenna, and fractionated dipole [FD]) are investigated. For experimental validation, a bumped FD is further investigated at 10.5T. After the validation, the transmit performances of eight‐channel arrays of each element are compared through electromagnetic (EM) simulations. Results Introducing a bump reduced the peak 10g‐averaged SAR by 21, 26, 23% for the loop and snake antenna at 7T, and FD at 10.5T, respectively. In addition, eight‐channel bumped FD array at 10.5T had a 27% lower peak 10g‐averaged SAR in a realistic human body simulation (i.e., prostate imaging) compared to an eight‐channel FD array. Conclusion In this study, we investigated a simple design strategy based on adding bumps to a resonant element to reduce the local SAR while maintaining B1+ inside an ROI. As an example, we modified an FD and performed EM simulations and phantom experiments with a 10.5T scanner. Results show that the peak 10g‐averaged SAR can be reduced more than 25%.

Multi-element transmit arrays with low peak 10 g specific absorption rate (SAR) and high SAR efficiency (defined as are essential for ultra-high field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. Recently, the adaptation of dipole antennas used as MRI coil elements in multi-channel arrays has provided the community with a technological solution capable of producing uniform images and low SAR efficiency at these high field strengths. However, human head-sized arrays consisting of dipole elements have a practical limitation to the number of channels that can be used due to radiofrequency (RF) coupling between the antenna elements, as well as, the coaxial cables necessary to connect them. Here we suggest an asymmetric sleeve antenna as an alternative to the dipole antenna. When used in an array as MRI coil elements, the asymmetric sleeve antenna can generate reduced peak 10 g SAR and improved SAR efficiency. To demonstrate the advantages of an array consisting of our suggested design, we compared various performance metrics produced by 16-channel arrays of asymmetric sleeve antennas and dipole antennas with the same dimensions. Comparison data were produced on a phantom in electromagnetic (EM) simulations and verified with experiments at 10.5 Tesla (T). The results produced by the 16-channel asymmetric sleeve antenna array demonstrated 28 % lower peak 10 g SAR and 18.6 % higher SAR efficiency when compared to the 16-channel dipole antenna array.

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