Lu, Ming., Zhu, Haoqin., Wang, Ruilin., & Yan, Xinqiang. (2025). Wireless Resonators With Coupled Versus Decoupled Units: Which Enhances Local SNR of RF Receive Arrays Better?. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.70170
This study compared two types of wireless resonators—devices that can boost signal reception in MRI—to see which design improves image quality the most when used with local receive arrays. One design had strongly coupled units(connected to each other), and the other had decoupled units (independent from each other).
Both designs were built and tested at 1.5 T alongside a 12-channel head receive array, with the standard body coil used to transmit the radiofrequency signals. We measured how efficiently the resonators could be turned off (detuning), how much they improved the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and their effect on parallel imaging performance (g-factor).
The results showed that the decoupled design consistently performed better. It increased SNR by up to three times and lowered the g-factor, meaning it allowed faster imaging with higher quality. Compared to the original array, the decoupled resonator further improved imaging performance, making scans both quicker and clearer.
Overall, decoupled wireless resonators provide significant advantages over coupled ones, with easier detuning and substantial gains in SNR and g-factor, making them a strong choice for improving MRI image quality.
FIGURE 1
(A, B) Circuit diagrams of the constructed wireless resonators with coupled and decoupled units. (C, D) CAD and PCB design of these wireless resonators. (E, F) Illustration of the relative position of the head array and wireless resonators.