Metamaterial structures for MR-spectroscopy - Metacoils

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jan Gerrit Korvink
• Subject Area: Microsystems ; Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy, Radiobiology
• Term: from 2013 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 227997126

Can metamaterial resonators solve the major challenges that arise in high field (7T) magnetic resonance imaging? At these field strengths, the increase Larmor frequency leads to radiofrequency (RF) wavelengths of the order of the region of interest. The resultant magnetic resonance image suffers from artifacts, and patients can be exposed to unsafe specific absoption rate (SAR) levels.Metamaterials can exploit zero order resonances with improved field homogeneity along the resonator, a feature which potentially can circumvent these critical high-field issues. Recent studies have shown that metamaterials are capable of guiding RF in a magnetic resonance (MR) setting. In order for metamaterial-based MR coils - or MetaCoils as we call them here - to become firmly established in magnetic resonance imaging, we will perform fundamental investigations to explain their theoretical performance and practical limitations. Furthermore, we will create knowledge on their design, manufacture, and performance in a high field setting, and cast the gained results into practical design rules.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Dr.-Ing. Dario Mager