Production of hyperpolarized 129Xe gas has opened new frontiers for imaging lung anatomy and function using MRI. Our institution has the goal of using hyperpolarized 129Xe gas for MR imaging of neonatal lungs at 1.5 T. To realize this goal, it is essential that the RF coil used for imaging operate at both the 129Xe and 1H frequencies. This report provides fabrication details of a novel 129Xe/1H switched frequency transmit/receive 16 rung high-pass birdcage RF coil. Images collected with hyperpolarized 129Xe gas and water in phantoms demonstrate that the coil provides excellent image quality at both frequencies.
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