Unilateral 8ch Receiver Array for Ultra High Resolution Time-Resolved 3D CE-MRA of the Hand

Paul T. Weavers¹, Thomas C. Hulshizer¹, Phillip J. Rossman¹, Phillip M. Young², Stephen J. Riederer¹

Hand and arm MR angiography presents a particular challenge due to the spatial and temporal resolution demands. When unilateral vs. bilateral imaging is clinically indicated, unilateral acquisition allows not only reduced FOV but also reduced patient discomfort in positioning. A modular, eight-channel receiver coil is described which provides the high SNR necessary for highly accelerated (R=8) 2D SENSE time-resolved contrast-enhanced MRA, allowing very high (0.6 mm isotropic) spatial resolution, arterial phase imaging.