Katharina Goebel1, Nicoleta Baxan1, Oliver Gruschke2, Johannes S. Kern3, Cristina Has3, Jan G. Korvink2, 4, Leena Bruckner-Tudermann3, 4, Juergen Hennig1, Dominik von Elverfeldt1
1Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Wrttemberg, Germany; 2IMTEK, Laboratory of Simulation, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Wrttemberg, Germany; 3Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Wrttemberg, Germany; 4Freiburg Institute for Advances Studies (FRIAS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Wrttemberg, Germany
If spatial resolution, contrast and sensitivity are sufficient, MR-microscopy can be used as a powerful instrument for in vivo investigation of the human skin as an alternative to histology. The key obstacle is the SNR decrease due to the low sensitivity of MR-microscopy. A reason for that is the layered structure of the skin demanding an extremely high-resolution over an enhanced FOV. A phased-array MR-microcoil was developed to alleviate such limitations combining the advantages of large FOV and high SNR. The presented coil was characterized in terms of B0 homogeneity. Feasibility studies were performed revealing high-resolution images of human skin.