The spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) achievable in magnetic resonance microscopy* are limited by intrinsic probe losses** and probe-sample interactions. Conventional MRI probes are copper coils, of variable shapes, which surround the patient or the part of the body to be explored and which are capable of producing and/or capturing the radiofrequency signal necessary for image acquisition.

In a previous study, the researchers had shown an improvement of the SNR thanks to the use of a new ceramic probe. Here, they show that the use of a double ceramic probe, which contains 2 samples, leads to an SNR improved by a factor close to the square root of 2 compared to a solenoid optimized for one sample.

In the era of ultra-high field MRI imaging, these results, obtained thanks to a low-cost and low-complexity experimental device capable of imaging two samples during the same acquisition time interval and a single reception channel, are promising for the reduction of MRI acquisition times.



This article was featured on the cover page of the November issue of NMR in BioMedicine (2020; vol.33, no.11). Author of the image : Marine A.C. Moussu/Fresnel Institute






Contact Joliot : Luisa Ciobanu  

* Magnetic resonance microscopy offers the possibility to image samples of a few millimeters with sub-micrometric resolution, i.e. at spatial resolutions below 100 µm³.
** In magnetic resonance microscopy (MR microscopy), the image is produced by a probe or resonator which, when powered by an electric current, produces a magnetic field necessary for imaging.