Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scanners have an elaborate RF chain, very similar to the ones found in a typical Telecom or Aerospace communication network. The system consists of RF power sources that deliver energy over front end & transmit antennae, and sensitive receive antennae to pick up signals from patients. These signals are amplified and eventually digitized to form high resolution anatomical images. The transmit antennae (or coil), while generating the RF B field required for imaging, deposits power in the human body due to concomitant E fields and currents induced in the conductive regions of the human body. This power that is typically characterized by Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), if left uncontrolled, can cause changes in the temperature of human body, which can be harmful.

This talk gives an intro to the RF sub-system of an MRI scanner and the simulations involved in their designs, and presents initial results of changes in local and global SAR due to change in transmit coil loading, especially the one due to RF shield.

CST Studio Suite ​​​​​​​Electromagnetics ​​​​​​​RUM2021 ​​​​​​​RUM2021-India ​​​​​​​