Oliver Kraff1,2, Andreas K. Bitz1,2, Stephan Orzada1,2, Stefan Maderwald1,2, Stefan Kruszona1,2, Lena C. Schaefer1,2, Janine Y S Grootfaam1,2, Mark E. Ladd1,2, Harald H. Quick1,2
1Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, Essen, Germany; 2Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
An eight-channel transmit/receive RF array was built for imaging the carotid arteries at 7T. The array was made of four overlapping loop coils per side to assess both arteries in one acquisition. We characterize this prototype in simulations and bench measurements and show first in vivo results. Numerical simulations were performed for design optimization as well as safety validation. In vivo images reveal a good excitation of the arteries on both sides of the neck. The vessel walls are well visualized. Our results indicate that this phased array coil could open a promising new application field in 7T clinical research.