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Gradient Coil Design and Optimization for an Ultra-Low-Field MRI System

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Abstract

Gradient coils are used to generate the spatially varying gradient magnetic fields used to phase- and frequency-modulate the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal and enable position encoding in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The continuous-current–density-based method of gradient coil design has been well developed in mathematical modeling, however, practical design as it relates to the experimental realization of simulated gradient coil designs and their ultimate performance has not been well studied. In this work, we design and build a planar gradient coil system, consisting of X, Y, and Z gradient coils, for use in a 6.5 mT ultra-low-field MRI (ULF MRI) system. Specifically, we designed each gradient coil using the equivalent magnetic dipole method (EMDM), and further studied its realization by analyzing gradient-coil geometric parameters, including size, gap, conductor pattern, and conductor density. The geometric parameters are varied during the design of an optimal gradient coil and then analyzed using finite-element-method (FEM) simulations to reveal the relationship between the geometric parameters and gradient coil performance. Based on EMDM and the geometric parameter analysis, we arrive at an optimal gradient coil system whose performance was evaluated by FEM simulation and magnetic field measurement.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the help provided by Wei Zhang, Cai Wan, Qing Zhao, and Yuhang Yang in gradient coil winding and assembling. This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52077023), Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(cstc2020jcyj-msxmX0340), and Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission (CJGJZD20200617102402006). Data will be made available on reasonable request.

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Author notes

  1. Matthew S. Rosen and Zheng Xu contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment and System Security and New Technology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Sheng Shen, Xiaohan Kong & Zheng Xu

  2. MGH/A.A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA

    Neha Koonjoo & Matthew S. Rosen

  3. Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Matthew S. Rosen

  4. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Matthew S. Rosen

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  1. Sheng Shen
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  2. Neha Koonjoo
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Correspondence to Zheng Xu.

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Shen, S., Koonjoo, N., Kong, X. et al. Gradient Coil Design and Optimization for an Ultra-Low-Field MRI System. Appl Magn Reson 53, 895–914 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00723-022-01470-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00723-022-01470-2

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