A size‐adaptive 32‐channel array coil for awake infant neuroimaging at 3 Tesla MRI

Purpose Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during infancy poses challenges due to practical, methodological, and analytical considerations. The aim of this study was implement a hardware-related approach increase subject compliance for fMRI involving awake infants. To accomplish this, we designed, constructed, evaluated an adaptive 32-channel array coil. Methods allow with close-fitting head coil infants aged 1-18 months, adjustable concept developed. setup facilitates half-seated scanning position improve the infant's overall scan compliance. Earmuff compartments are integrated directly into housing enable usage sound protection without losing snug fit around head. constructed from phantom data using bench-level metrics, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performances, accelerated capabilities both in-plane simultaneous multislice (SMS) reconstruction methodologies. Furthermore, preliminary were acquired evaluate in vivo performance. Results Phantom showed 2.7-fold SNR on average when compared commercially available At center periphery regions infant phantom, gains measured be 1.25-fold 3-fold, respectively. further favorable encoding undersampled k-space methods SMS techniques. Conclusions An infant-friendly developed sensitivity, spatial resolution, encoding, motion insensitivity, tolerance pediatric MRI. is well-suited acquisitions