Reconfigurable multi-channel RF crossbar switch matrix for MRI receiver front-end

In this Letter, a highly reconfigurable crossbar transmission line switch matrix for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is proposed. Unlike the conventional M × N crossbar switch configuration, the proposed structure can manipulate 2M × N matrix without doubling the area occupancy. Also, the proposed structure includes the signal loss-compensation circuitry based on inductor banks to enhance signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Thus, for any required numbers of input and output channels, the proposed structure can reduce the overall size, the number of required component, and even increase the quality of MR images by SNR enhancement. The proposed structure was implemented and verified at 4-Tesla (170 MHz) MR system through the comparison of RF path loss, SNR and phantom test image qualities.