Radiofrequency field enhancement with high dielectric constant (HDC) pads in a receive array coil at 3.0T

Purpose To investigate the use of a new high‐dielectric constant (HDC) material for improving SNR and transmission efficiency for clinical MRI applications at 3 Tesla (T) with cervical spine imaging. Materials and Methods Human subjects were imaged using a commercial cervical spine receive array coil on a clinical system with and without pads containing Barium Titanate beads in deuterium water placed around the neck. Numerical electromagnetic field simulations of the same configuration were also performed. Results Experimental and simulated maps of transmit and receive fields showed greater efficiency for imaging the cervical spine when the pads were present. Experimental measurements showed a significant improvement in SNR with the pads present and an average input power reduction of 46%. Conclusion Use of HDC material can enhance SNR and transmission efficiency for clinical imaging of the cervical spine at 3.0T. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:435–440. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.