Multiple-acquisition parallel imaging combined with a transceive array for the amelioration of high-field RF distortion: a modeling study

A new method for ameliorating high-field image distortion caused by radio frequency/tissue interaction is presented and modeled, The proposed method uses, but is not restricted to, a shielded four-element transceive phased array coil and involves performing two separate scans of the same slice with each scan using different excitations during transmission. By optimizing the amplitudes and phases for each scan, antipodal signal profiles can be obtained, and by combining both images together, the image distortion can be reduced several-fold. A hybrid finite-difference time-domain/method-of-moments method is used to theoretically demonstrate the method and also to predict the radio frequency behavior inside the human head. in addition, the proposed method is used in conjunction with the GRAPPA reconstruction technique to enable rapid imaging. Simulation results reported herein for IIT (470 MHz) brain imaging applications demonstrate the feasibility of the concept where multiple acquisitions using parallel imaging elements with GRAPPA reconstruction results in improved image quality. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

High-field magnetic resonance imaging with reduced field/tissue RF artefacts - A modeling study using hybrid MoM/FEM and FDTD technique

Due to complex field/tissue interactions, high-field magnetic resonance (MR) images suffer significant image distortions that result in compromised diagnostic quality. A new method that attempts to remove these distortions is proposed in this paper and is based on the use of transceiver-phased arrays. The proposed system uses, in the examples presented herein, a shielded four-element transceive-phased array head coil and involves performing two separate scans of the same slice with each scan using different excitations during transmission. By optimizing the amplitudes and phases for each scan, antipodal signal profiles can be obtained, and by combining both the images together, the image distortion can be reduced several fold. A combined hybrid method of moments (MoM)/finite element method (FEM) and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique is proposed and used to elucidate the concept of the new method and to accurately evaluate the electromagnetic field (EMF) in a human head model. In addition, the proposed method is used in conjunction with the generalized auto-calibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) reconstruction technique to enable rapid imaging of the two scans. Simulation results reported herein for 11-T (470-MHz) brain imaging applications show that the new method with GRAPPA reconstruction theoretically results in improved image quality and that the proposed combined hybrid MoM/FEM and FDTD technique is. suitable for high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) numerical analysis.

An inverse methodology for high frequency RF head coil design with pre-emphasized B1 field in MRI

An inverse methodology to assist in the design of radio-frequency (RF) head coils for high field MRI application is described in this work. Free space time-harmonic electromagnetic Green's functions and preemphasized B1 field are used to calculate the current density on the coil cylinder. With B1 field preemphasized and lowered in the middle of the RF transverse plane, the calculated current distribution can generate an internal magnetic field that can reduce the EM field/tissue interactions at high frequencies. The current distribution of a head coil operating at 4 T is calculated using inverse methodology with preemphasized B1 fields. FDTD is employed to calculate B1 field and signal intensity inside a homogenous cylindrical phantom and human head. A comparison with conventional RF birdcage coil is reported here and demonstrated that inverse-method designed coil with preemphasized B1 field can help in decreasing the notorious bright region caused by EM field/tissue interactions in the human head images at 4 T.

Effect of anode material and cavity design on the performance of microcavity OLEDs

We report on the effect of the replacement of the conventional ITO anode with the semitransparent metallic material on the performance of microcavity OLEDs. We performed comprehensive simulations of the emission from microcavity OLEDs consisting of widely used organic materials, N,N′-di(naphthalene-1- yl)-N,N′-diphenylbenzidine (NPB) as a hole transport layer and tris (8-hydroxyquinoline) (Alq3) as emitting and electron transporting layer. Silver and LiF/Al were considered as a cathode, while metallic (Au and Ag) anode was used and simulations were performed on devices with both the metallic and conventional ITO anode. The electroluminescence emission spectra, electric field distribution inside the device, carrier density, recombination rate and exciton density were calculated as a function of the position of the emission layer. The results show that the metallic anode enhances light output and that optimum emission from a microcavity OLED is achieved when the position of the recombination region is aligned with the antinode of the standing wave inside the cavity. The microcavity OLED devices with Ag/Ag and Ag/Au mirrors were fabricated and characterized. The experimental results have been compared to the simulations and the influence of the different anode, emission region width and position on the performance of microcavity OLEDs was discussed.

AVALIAÇÃO DAS ALTERAÇÕES DENTOESQUELÉTICAS DE PACIENTES COM MÁ OCLUSÃO DE CLASSE II DE ANGLE, TRATADOS COM O APARELHO REGULADOR DE FUNÇÃO DE FRÄNKEL (RF-2).

Esta pesquisa objetivou estudar retrospectivamente por meio de radiografias em norma frontal e modelos de gesso as alterações dentoesqueléticas de pacientes com má oclusão de Classe II, 1ª divisão, divididos em dois grupos: Grupo Tratado, constituído de 28 pacientes, sendo 13 pacientes do sexo masculino e 15 do sexo feminino, tratados com aparelho regulador de função de Fränkel - 2 (RF-2), por um período ativo de 1,5 anos; Grupo Controle: constituído de 28 pacientes, sendo 12 do sexo masculino e 16 do sexo feminino, sem nenhum tipo de tratamento durante o acompanhamento longitudinal de 1,5 anos. A amostra deste estudo consistiu de 112 telerradiografias em norma frontal e 112 pares de modelos de gesso, 56 obtidos ao início (T1) e 56 ao final da observação (T2). Após a análise estatística das mensurações obtidas, concluiu- se que houve como resultado alterações estatisticamente significantes em todas as medidas analisadas e o aparelho RF-2 teve atuação direta nas variáveis: distância intermolares superio res e inferiores (radiografias e modelos),profundidade palatina, largura maxilar e altura facial ântero-inferior.

AVALIAÇÃO DA ESTABILIDADE DAS ALTERAÇÕES TRANSVERSAIS PROMOVIDAS PELO APARELHO REGULADOR DE FUNÇÃO FRANKEL 2, POR MEIO DE TELERRADIOGRAFIAS POSTEROANTERIORES

O objetivo desta pesquisa constituiu em avaliar, por meio das telerradiografias posteroanteriores, as alterações transversais promovidas pelo aparelho Frankel-2 em pacientes com maloclusão de Classe II, divisão 1, além de verificar a estabilidade das mesmas após um período médio de 7,11 anos pós-tratamento. A amostra compreendeu um total de 45 telerradiografias posteroanteriores provenientes de 15 pacientes tratados com o RF-2, realizadas em três fases: (T1) início do tratamento; (T2) final de tratamento; (T3) pós-tratamento. Foram avaliadas outras 36 telerradiografias posteroanteriores de 18 pacientes não tratados (grupo controle), acompanhados num período correspondente ao tratamento (T1-T2). As telerradiografias foram digitalizadas e foi utilizado o software Radiocef Studio 2 para realizar as mensurações das medidas cefalométricas. Para a comparação entre as alterações ocorridas no grupo tratado e no grupo controle, foi aplicado o teste t não pareado. Já para as modificações nas fases inicial, final e pós-tratamento no grupo tratado, foi empregada a Análise de Variância seguida do teste de comparações múltiplas de Tukey, com o valor crítico de 0,05. Os resultados mostraram que durante o período de tratamento as distâncias intercaninos inferiores e intermolares superiores aumentaram de forma estatisticamente significante. Já as distâncias que representam a largura da cavidade nasal, altura facial inferior, largura mandibular e distância intermolares inferiores não sofreram alterações estatisticamente significantes. No período pós-tratamento, observou-se uma suave redução nas distâncias intercaninos inferiores e intermolares superiores. Porém, considerando-se as alterações ocorridas devido ao crescimento e desenvolvimento transversal dos arcos dentários no período analisado, em que haveria uma redução destas distâncias, provavelmente houve uma estabilidade relativa das alterações dentárias transversais promovidas pelo RF-2. Portanto, pode-se concluir que o RF-2 não possui qualquer efeito esquelético transversal. Contudo, há um aumento das distâncias intermolares superiores e intercaninos inferiores durante o tratamento, que permanece relativamente estável, considerando-se as alterações ocorridas pelo crescimento e desenvolvimento normal dos arcos dentários.