Improving Image Quality for open MRI Architectures through System Design Optimisation

Funder	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Recipient Organization	University of Nottingham
Country	United Kingdom
Start Date	Mar 31, 2021
End Date	Feb 15, 2022
Duration	321 days
Number of Grantees	2
Roles	Student; Supervisor
Data Source	UKRI Gateway to Research
Grant ID	`2511434`

Grant Description

Project Aim:

- To optimise the hardware design of open MRI systems, to improve image quality and reduce imaging times, thereby improving patient throughput. Project Objectives

- To design novel radiofrequency (RF) coils to permit localised imaging, and in the future parallel imaging of the body (in the form of a phased array system similar to that utilised in modern radar systems)

- To design, build and test an Electromagnetic (EM) Field camera to define and compensate for field variations during image acquisition - To study dynamic functional processes within the body using the optimised hardware described above

Progress: At present the open MRI is installed at the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre in Nottingham. The various work packages are being planned in detail to support a co-ordinated interdisciplinary study of the system design. The project kick-off date is 1st April 2021.