Radiofrequency antenna concepts for human cardiac MR at 14.0 T.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of human cardiac MR (CMR) at 14.0 T using high-density radiofrequency (RF) dipole transceiver arrays in conjunction with static and dynamic parallel transmission (pTx).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: RF arrays comprised of self-grounded bow-tie (SGBT) antennas, bow-tie (BT) antennas, or fractionated dipole (FD) antennas were used in this simulation study. Static and dynamic pTx were applied to enhance transmission field (B1 + ) uniformity and efficiency in the heart of the human voxel model. B1 + distribution and maximum specific absorption rate averaged over 10 g tissue (SAR10g ) were examined at 7.0 T and 14.0 T.

RESULTS: At 14.0 T static pTx revealed a minimum B1 + ROI efficiency of 0.91 μT/√kW (SGBT), 0.73 μT/√kW (BT), and 0.56 μT/√kW (FD) and maximum SAR10g of 4.24 W/kg, 1.45 W/kg, and 2.04 W/kg. Dynamic pTx with 8 kT points indicate a balance between B1 + ROI homogeneity (coefficient of variation < 14%) and efficiency (minimum B1 + ROI  > 1.11 µT/√kW) at 14.0 T with a maximum SAR10g  < 5.25 W/kg.

DISCUSSION: MRI of the human heart at 14.0 T is feasible from an electrodynamic and theoretical standpoint, provided that multi-channel high-density antennas are arranged accordingly. These findings provide a technical foundation for further explorations into CMR at 14.0 T.