The ultimate intrinsic signal‐to‐noise ratio of loop‐ and dipole‐like current patterns in a realistic human head model

Purpose The ultimate intrinsic signal‐to‐noise ratio (UISNR) represents an upper bound for the achievable SNR of any receive coil. To reach this threshold a complete basis set of equivalent surface currents is required. This study systematically investigated to what extent either loop‐ or dipole‐like current patterns are able to reach the UISNR threshold in a realistic human head model between 1.5 T and 11.7 T. Based on this analysis, we derived guidelines for coil designers to choose the best array element at a given field strength. Moreover, we present ideal current patterns yielding the UISNR in a realistic body model. Methods We distributed generic current patterns on a cylindrical and helmet‐shaped surface around a realistic human head model. We excited electromagnetic fields in the human head by using eigenfunctions of the spherical and cylindrical Helmholtz operator. The electromagnetic field problem was solved by a fast volume integral equation solver. Results At 7 T and above, adding curl‐free current patterns to divergence‐free current patterns substantially increased the SNR in the human head (locally >20%). This was true for the helmet‐shaped and the cylindrical surface. On the cylindrical surface, dipole‐like current patterns had high SNR performance in central regions at ultra‐high field strength. The UISNR increased superlinearly with B0 in most parts of the cerebrum but only sublinearly in the periphery of the human head. Conclusion The combination of loop and dipole elements could enhance the SNR performance in the human head at ultra‐high field strength.