Making MRI coils great again

Research

Here are some of our projects and publications:
Go to iPRES

iPRES

We developed a novel integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) coil design that allows RF and DC currents to flow on the same coil, enabling MR imaging and localized B0 shimming with a single coil array.
Han H, Song AW, Truong TK (2013). Integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES). Magn Reson Med 70(1): 241-247
Go to iPRES – brain

iPRES – brain

We implemented the iPRES technology into a 32-channel head coil array and showed that it can substantially reduce localized B0 inhomogeneities and image distortions in the human brain.
Truong TK, Darnell D, Song AW (2014). Integrated RF/shim coil array for parallel reception and localized B0 shimming in the human brain. NeuroImage 103: 235-240
Go to iPRES-B – brain

iPRES-B – brain

We developed a plug-and-play, battery-powered iPRES (iPRES-B) head coil array to enable a wider adoption of this technology in clinical applications.
Darnell D, Willey D, Luce S, Song AW, Truong TK (2017). Battery-powered integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) head coil array for plug-and-play localized B0 shimming. Proc ISMRM 25: 4431
Go to iPRES – fMRI

iPRES – fMRI

We developed a novel iPRES shim optimization method that can not only correct for image distortions, but also recover signal loss, in functional MRI applications.
Willey DA, Darnell D, Song AW, Truong TK (2018). Application of integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) for signal loss recovery in fMRI. Proc ISMRM 26: 838
Go to iPRES(N) – body

iPRES(N) – body

We developed a novel iPRES(N) coil design with N DC loops per RF coil element, implemented it into an 8-channel body coil array, and showed that it can more effectively shim localized B0 inhomogeneities in abdominal imaging than the iPRES coil design.
Darnell D, Truong TK, Song AW (2017). Integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) with multiple shim loops per radio-frequency coil element for improved B0 shimming. Magn Reson Med 77(5): 2077-2086
Go to iPRES(N)-A – body

iPRES(N)-A – body

We developed a novel adaptive iPRES(N) (iPRES(N)-A) coil design using microelectromechanical system switches and showed that it can achieve a similar shimming performance as that of the iPRES(N) coil design, while reducing the number of power supplies by a factor N.
Darnell D, Ma Y, Wang H, Robb F, Song AW, Truong TK (2018). Adaptive integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES-A) with microelectromechanical systems switches. Magn Reson Med 80(1): 371-379
Go to iPRES(N) – breast

iPRES(N) – breast

We implemented the iPRES and iPRES(N) coil designs into an 8-channel breast coil array and showed that it can substantially reduce localized B0 inhomogeneities and image distortions in breast imaging.
Ma Y, Darnell D, Zhang H, Robb F, Song AW, Truong TK (2018). Integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) breast coil array for simultaneous MR image acquisition and localized B0 shimming. Proc ISMRM 26: 842
Go to RF/wireless & iPRES-W

RF/wireless & iPRES-W

We developed novel integrated RF/wireless and wireless iPRES (iPRES-W) coil designs that allow RF currents, at the Larmor frequency and in a wireless communication band, and a DC current to flow on the same coil, enabling MR imaging, wireless communication, and localized B0 shimming with a single coil.
Darnell D, Cuthbertson J, Robb F, Song AW, Truong TK (2019). Integrated radio-frequency/wireless coil design for simultaneous MR image acquisition and wireless communication. Magn Reson Med 81(3): 2176–2183
Go to iPRES-W AIR – spinal cord

iPRES-W AIR – spinal cord

We integrated the iPRES-W coil design with the novel AIR coil technology and showed that it can wirelessly shim localized B0 inhomogeneities and reduce image distortions in spinal cord imaging.
Cuthbertson JD, Darnell D, Stormont R, Robb F, Song AW, Truong TK (2019). A 4-channel iPRES-W AIR coil array for simultaneous MR image acquisition and wirelessly-controlled localized B0 shimming of the spinal cord. Proc ISMRM 27: 1489

RF/wireless

We performed finite element simulations to optimize the far-field gain, directivity, and link budget of an integrated RF/wireless coil within the scanner bore.
Bresticker J, Thompson Z, Willey D, Song AW, Darnell D, Truong TK (2019). Simulations of integrated radio-frequency/wireless coil designs for simultaneous MR image acquisition and wireless communication. Proc ISMRM 27: 1541

DTI

We are investigating the feasibility of using high-resolution intracortical diffusion tensor imaging for the early detection of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.

About Us


The MR Engineering Lab is part of the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center at Duke University.  Our research involves the development of innovative MRI technologies, such as integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) coil arrays and integrated RF/wireless coil arrays, to improve the image quality and clinical utility of various MRI applications in the human brain and body, such as functional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging.

People

Meet the team:

Trong-Kha Truong, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Radiology
trongkha.truong [at] duke.edu
Trong-Kha’s research involves the development of new MRI technologies, such as iPRES and integrated RF/wireless coil arrays, as well as new image acquisition and reconstruction methods for diffusion tensor imaging and functional MRI. [more info]

Dean Darnell, Ph.D.

Medical Instructor of Radiology
dean.darnell [at] duke.edu
Dean’s research involves the development of new MRI technologies, such as iPRES and integrated RF/wireless coil arrays, as well as the daily consumption of an extensive amount of coffee.

Devin Willey

Ph.D. student in Medical Physics
devin.willey [at] duke.edu
Devin’s research involves the development of a plug-and-play, battery-powered iPRES head coil array and the application of iPRES for signal loss recovery in functional MRI.

Yixin Ma

Ph.D. student in Medical Physics
yixin.ma [at] duke.edu
Yixin’s research involves the development of iPRES(N) and iPRES(N)-A breast and body coil arrays, and the application of high-resolution intracortical diffusion tensor imaging for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

Jonathan Cuthbertson

Ph.D. student in Medical Physics
jonathan.cuthbertson [at] duke.edu
Jon’s research involves the development of integrated RF/wireless and iPRES-W coils as well as an iPRES-W AIR coil array for spinal cord imaging.

Zachary Thompson

M.S. student in Medical Physics
zachary.thompson [at] duke.edu
Zack’s research involves the construction of an anechoic chamber for far-field measurements and the development of an iPRES coil array for animal imaging.

Vani Yadav

M.S. student in Medical Physics
vani.yadav [at] duke.edu
Vani’s research involves the development of a plug-and-play, battery-powered iPRES head coil array.

Allen W. Song, Ph.D.

Professor & Director of BIAC
allen.song [at] duke.edu

Lab Alumni

Julia Bresticker

M.S. student in Medical Physics
Julia’s research involved the numerical optimization of integrated RF/wireless coil arrays and the development of an iPRES(N)-A body coil array.

Huimin Zhang

M.S. student in Medical Physics
Duke Kunshan University

Sebastian Luce

Summer intern

Hongyuan Wang

M.S. student in Medical Physics
Duke Kunshan University

ISMRM 2019

Montreal, Canada

GRS/GRC 2018

Andover, NH

ISMRM 2018

Paris, France

Graduation 2018

Washington Duke Inn

Duke team photo Op

Brain Imaging and Analysis Center
The team posing with their iPRES head and breast coil arrays for a GE SIGNA Pulse of MR article

ISMRM 2017

Honolulu, HI

Fraser’s visit

Durham, NC

News

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