Evaluation of RF shielding materials to improve MR image of hybrid PET/MRI

Hybrid PET/MRI is a useful imaging system that can improve diagnostic accuracy by providing both functional and anatomical information. However, the combination of PET and MRI can lead to mutual interference, which can degrade the performances of both imaging systems. One of the methods that is capable of preserving the performance of both modalities is to apply RF shielding to PET detectors and electronics. The purpose of this study was to propose a new RF shielding method using Au-plated conductive fabric (PCF) tape that could not only minimize RF interference and eddy current, but that could also be applied to complex PET gantry and detector module structures more easily than thin Cu foils, which have been widely used as a shielding material for hybrid PET/MRI systems. To evaluate the performance of the proposed new RF shielding method, the effects of the two RF shield materials (Cu and Au) on the B1 + field generated by the RF head coil were estimated using a computer simulation method. The effects of the Au PCF tape and Cu foil on the homogeneity and SNR of the MR image were also experimentally evaluated using a commercial 3-T MRI. The uniformity of the B1 + field map was slightly decreased by the use of Cu and Au RF shields. The deterioration in the MR image quality caused by the Au PCF tape was less than that caused by Cu foil. The simulation and experimental results indicate that Au PCF tape can serve as an alternative shielding material that reduces RF interference and eddy current for hybrid PET/MRI systems.