Microstrip Quasi-TEM Resonator for Magnetic Resonance Imaging at High Field of 8T

In this work, we used the finite element method (FEM) and the multiconductor transmission lines (MTL) method for designing an UHF magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probe. This radio frequency (RF) volume coil quasi-transverse electromagnetic (quasi-TEM) type, based on the use of 16 microstrip transmission line elements has been developed for in vivo hydrogen magnetic resonance (HMR) application on small animals at a field of 8T. The quasi-TEM resonator coil compared with the shielded birdcage coil is characterized major advantages: simple coil structure, high-quality factor and completely distributed circuit. The implemented numerical tool allows the determination of the primary parameters, matrices [L] and [C], and simulates the frequency response of the reflection coefficient of the RF excitation port of the resonator, which allows us to estimate the level of adaptation of this RF volume coil for imaging small animals at Larmor frequency of 340 MHz.