BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//132.216.98.100//NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.20.4// BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260523T121216EDT-3655iZcu4S@132.216.98.100 DTSTAMP:20260523T161216Z DESCRIPTION:Abstract\n\nThe goal of this work has been to make head imaging more equitable\, and show that accommodative engineering designs benefit all. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)\, most radio-frequency (RF) coils are designed such that the largest heads fit\, however this means that sm aller heads are undeserved in terms of sensitivity and ultimately signal-t o-noise ratio\, as the space between the surface of the head and of some o f the coil’s elements is larger. Adding adjustability to coils is a popula r approach\, however stability and signal-to-noise ratio often suffer\, ma king it self defeating.\n\nA 128-channel RF coil array for head MRI was de signed. The array is split up into sub-arrays that are built into semi-fle xible plates\, which were inspired by the cranial bones of the human head. The plates can be adjusted to fit different heads. The gaps between the p lates are bridged by ultra-flexible bowing suture elements which bend outw ards when the plates move inwards to accommodate a smaller head\, and flat ten out for larger heads as the plates move apart.\n\nAn average head surf ace model was segmented into eight 2-mm thick plates 3D-printed in flexibl e thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) on which 35-mm diameter elements are th readed. A total of 104 channels are plate bound with the remaining 24 rese rved as bowing sutures.\n\nThis thesis presents the results of targeted te sts that demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the 128-channel design\, and the fully realized semi-flexible plate-bound 104-channel coil .\n\nIn MRI experiments on phantoms the 104-channel coil outperformed a co mmercial 64-channel head coil in terms of an average SNR by 1.45-fold and at cortical depths as much as 4.33-fold. It also outperforms in terms of a ccelerated imaging\, specifically at higher R factors. For instance\, the maximum g-factor of an R = 8 A-P acceleration was reduced by ≈40%\, and in an R = 4 × 4 acceleration\, there was a reduction of ≈58%.\n\nThe adjusta ble plate approach presented in this work shows that an equitable coil is possible and has the potential to improve head imaging for all\, in terms of imaging speed\, patient comfort\, and image quality.\n DTSTART:20250319T180000Z DTEND:20250319T200000Z LOCATION:Room 603\, McConnell Engineering Building\, CA\, QC\, Montreal\, H 3A 0E9\, 3480 rue University SUMMARY:PhD defence of William Mathieu – A Size-Adaptable Flexible 128-Chan nel Receive-Only RF Coil Array for Brain 3-T MRI URL:/ece/channels/event/phd-defence-william-mathieu-si ze-adaptable-flexible-128-channel-receive-only-rf-coil-array-brain-3-t-363 767 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR