ABOUT US
The MR Engineering Lab is part of the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center at Duke University. Our research involves the development of novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil technologies – specifically, integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) and integrated radio-frequency/wireless (iRFW) coils – to enable imaging, localized B0 shimming, and/or wireless communication with a single coil, thereby improving the image quality and clinical utility of MRI applications such as functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the human brain and body. We also develop high-resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) techniques to investigate the microstructure of the human brain and to detect abnormalities in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
iPRES COIL TECHNOLOGIES
iPRES
We developed a novel iPRES coil design that allows RF and DC currents to flow on the same coil elements, enabling MR imaging and localized B0 shimming with a single coil array (Han et al. 2013).
iPRES | brain
We implemented iPRES into a 32-channel head coil array to effectively reduce localized B0 inhomogeneities and image distortions in the brain (Truong et al. 2014).
iPRES(N) | body
We implemented a novel iPRES(N) coil design, with N DC loops per RF coil element, into an 8-channel body coil array to more effectively shim localized B0 inhomogeneities in the abdomen (Darnell et al. 2017).
iPRES-B | brain
We developed a plug-and-play battery-powered iPRES head coil array to enable a more efficient and cost-effective shimming in clinical applications (Darnell et al. 2017).
iPRES(N)-A
We developed a novel adaptive iPRES(N) (iPRES(N)-A) coil design that uses switches to achieve a more cost-effective localized B0 shimming (Darnell et al. 2018).
iPRES | fMRI
We developed a novel iPRES shim optimization method to effectively reduce both image distortions and signal loss for fMRI applications (Willey et al. 2021).
iPRES | breast
We implemented iPRES into an 8-channel breast coil array to enable localized B0 shimming in DWI of the breast (Ma et al. 2018).
iPRES(N)-A | body
We implemented iPRES(N)-A into a 32-channel body coil array to enable localized B0 shimming in DWI of the abdomen (Ma et al. 2020).
iPRES | rat
We numerically optimized an iPRES rat coil design to achieve a high localized B0 shimming performance and signal-to-noise ratio (Thompson et al. 2020).
iRFW COIL TECHNOLOGIES
iRFW & iPRES-W
We developed novel iRFW and wireless iPRES (iPRES-W) coil designs that enable MR imaging, wireless communication, and/or localized B0 shimming with a single coil (Darnell et al. 2019).
iPRES-W | spinal cord
We implemented iPRES-W, along with the AIR™ coil technology, into a 4-channel spine coil array to enable wireless localized B0 shimming in DTI of the spinal cord (Cuthbertson et al. 2022).
iRFW
We performed simulations to optimize the wireless performance of iRFW coils (Bresticker et al. 2019).
iRFW | ultrasound
We integrated the iRFW coil design with an ultrasound-based sensor to enable MR imaging and wireless physiological motion monitoring (Willey et al. 2020).
dual-stream iPRES-W | brain
We implemented a dual-stream iPRES-W coil design into a 48-channel head coil array to enable MR imaging, wireless localized B0 shimming, and wireless respiratory monitoring (Cuthbertson et al. 2020).
iRFW | Q-spoiling
We developed an iRFW coil design that can perform wireless Q-spoiling to detune the coil during each RF transmit cycle (Cuthbertson et al. 2021).
power harvesting
We developed a power harvesting coil array that can harvest the energy from the RF transmit pulses to power electronics within the scanner bore (Cuthbertson et al. 2022).
HIGH-RESOLUTION DTI
DTI | cortical gray matter
We developed a cortical column-based analysis of submillimeter whole-brain DTI data to quantify the dependence of the diffusion anisotropy and radiality on the cortical depth, curvature, and region-of-interest (Ma et al. 2021).
DTI | hippocampus
We analyzed submillimeter DTI data of the hippocampus to investigate intra-hippocampal fiber tracts and connectomes in vivo and ex vivo (Ma et al. 2022).
PEOPLE
TRONG-KHA TRUONG, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiology
trongkha.truong [at] duke.edu
DEAN DARNELL, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiology and Electrical and Computer Engineering
dean.darnell [at] duke.edu
DEVON KARL OVERSON
Ph.D. student in Medical Physics
OLIVIA JO DICKINSON
Ph.D. student in Medical Physics
SPENCER LYNCH
M.S. student in Medical Physics
BETH REED
M.S. student in Medical Physics
ALLEN W. SONG, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of BIAC
LAB ALUMNI
YIXIN MA
Ph.D. student in Medical Physics
JASMINE CHEN
M.S. student in Medical Physics
JONATHAN CUTHBERTSON
Ph.D. student in Medical Physics
DEVIN WILLEY
Ph.D. student in Medical Physics
LINDSEY BLOOM
Summer intern
VANI YADAV
M.S. student in Medical Physics
ZACHARY THOMPSON
M.S. student in Medical Physics
JULIA BRESTICKER
M.S. student in Medical Physics
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
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
4/25/2022: An iPRES-W coil array for simultaneous imaging and wireless localized B0 shimming of the cervical spinal cord by Cuthbertson JD, Truong TK, Stormont R, Robb F, Song AW, and Darnell D is published in Magn Reson Med. Congrats, Jon!
2/4/2022: Congrats to Jon, Yixin, and Devin/Olivia/Karl for getting an e-poster and two power pitches accepted for ISMRM 2022!
7/29/2021: Recent advances in RF coil technologies: flexible, wireless, and integrated coil arrays by Darnell D, Truong TK, and Song AW is published in J Magn Reson Imaging.
7/20/2021: Application of an integrated radio-frequency/shim coil technology for signal recovery in fMRI by Willey D, Darnell D, Song AW, and Truong TK is published in Magn Reson Med. Congrats, Devin!
2/24/2021: Congrats to Yixin and Jon/Jasmine for getting a talk and an e-poster accepted for ISMRM 2021!
1/29/2020: Congrats to Devin/Julia, Yixin/Julia, Jon/Vani, and Zack for getting a power pitch, a talk, and two e-posters accepted for ISMRM 2020!
2/7/2019: Congrats to Jon and Julia/Zack/Devin for getting two e-posters accepted for ISMRM 2019!
9/14/2018: Integrated radio-frequency/wireless coil design for simultaneous MR image acquisition and wireless communication by Darnell D, Cuthbertson J, Robb F, Song AW, and Truong TK is published in Magn Reson Med.
6/16/2018: The team’s work is featured in a GE SIGNA Pulse of MR article at ISMRM 2018.
2/2/2018: Congrats to Jon/Julia, Devin, and Yixin/Huimin for getting a power pitch and two talks accepted for ISMRM 2018!
11/16/2017: Adaptive integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES-A) with microelectromechanical systems switches by Darnell D, Ma Y, Wang H, Robb F, Song AW, and Truong TK is published in Magn Reson Med.
1/30/2017: Congrats to Devin/Sebastian and Jon/Yixin/Sebastian for getting two e-posters accepted for ISMRM 2017!
5/13/2016:
Integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) with multiple shim loops per radio-frequency coil element for improved B0 shimming by Darnell D, Truong TK, and Song AW is published in Magn Reson Med.
9/28/2014: Integrated RF/shim coil array for parallel reception and localized B0 shimming in the human brain by Truong TK, Darnell D, and Song AW is published in NeuroImage.
AWARDS
12/3/2022: Congrats to Olivia for receiving a Diversity in Technology Scholarship from Cadence!
8/18/2022: Congrats to Devin/Olivia/Karl (again!) for winning the 1st place for Best Trainee Abstract from the MR Engineering ISMRM study group!
5/12/2022: Congrats to Devin/Olivia/Karl for receiving the Gold Award Trainee Prize from the Detection & Correction of Motion in MRI & MRS study group at ISMRM 2022!
4/22/2022: Congrats to Yixin and Devin/Olivia/Karl for receiving two Summa Cum Laude Merit Awards at ISMRM 2022!
4/15/2022: Congrats to Olivia (and Devin) for receiving the 2nd prize for M.S. students at the Medical Physics Research Symposium!
11/16/2021: Congrats to Jasmine and Karl for each receiving a Dean’s Research Award for Master’s Students from the Graduate School!
6/9/2021: Congrats to Yixin for receiving a Best Diffusion Neuro Oral Presentation Award from the ISMRM diffusion study group!
2021: Congrats to Karl for receiving the Zachary Shrock Memorial Scholarship from the Medical Physics Program!
4/30/2021: Congrats to Yixin for receiving a Magna Cum Laude Merit Award at ISMRM 2021!
10/9/2020: Congrats to Vani for receiving a Dean’s Research Award for Master’s Students from the Graduate School!
7/24/2020: Congrats to Jon/Vani for receiving a Magna Cum Laude Merit Award at ISMRM 2020!
2/11/2020: Congrats to Devin, Yixin, Zack, and Vani for receiving Educational and New Entrant Stipends for ISMRM 2020!
5/12/2019: Congrats to Julia for receiving the Academic and Research Excellence Award from the Medical Physics Program!
2/25/2019: Congrats to Jon, Julia, and Zack for receiving Educational and New Entrant Stipends for ISMRM 2019!
7/14/2018: Congrats to Julia for receiving a Best Poster Presentation Award at GRS/GRC 2018!
6/2/2018: Congrats to Devin and Jon/Julia for receiving two Magna Cum Laude Merit Awards at ISMRM 2018!
5/13/2018: Congrats to Dean, Yixin, and Jon for receiving the Director’s Award for Exemplary Service, Teaching Assistantship Award, and Academic and Research Excellence Award, respectively, from the Medical Physics Program!
2/15/2018: Congrats to Devin, Julia, Yixin, and Jon for receiving Educational and New Entrant Stipends for ISMRM 2018!
5/14/2017: Congrats to Yixin for receiving the Academic and Research Excellence Award from the Medical Physics Program!
4/24/2017: Congrats to Jon/Yixin for winning the 1st place for Best Poster Presentation Award from the MR engineering study group at ISMRM 2017!
4/17/2017: Congrats to Yixin for receiving the inaugural Karen Wrenn Graduate Fellowship in Alzheimer’s Disease Research!
2/16/2017: Congrats to Yixin and Jon for receiving New Entrant Stipends for ISMRM 2017!
LAB NEWS
9/15/2022: Welcome Beth Reed to the lab!
8/26/2022: Welcome Spencer Lynch to the lab!
6/30/2022: Congrats to Yixin for successfully defending her Ph.D. dissertation!
3/17/2022: Congrats to Jasmine for successfully defending her M.S. scholarship project!
3/16/2022: Congrats to Devin for successfully defending her Ph.D. dissertation!
3/15/2022: Congrats to Jon for successfully defending his Ph.D. dissertation!
3/2/2022: Congrats to Karl for successfully defending his M.S. thesis!
2/3/2022: Congrats to Karl and Olivia for being accepted into the Medical Physics Ph.D. Program!
7/24/2021: Welcome Olivia Jo Dickinson to the lab!
6/8/2021: Welcome Lindsey Bloom to the lab!
4/2/2021: Congrats to Vani for successfully defending her M.S. scholarship project!
9/1/2020: Welcome Devon Karl Overson to the lab!
8/5/2020: Welcome Jasmine Chen to the lab!
3/20/2020: Congrats to Zack for successfully defending his M.S. scholarship project!
12/1/2019: Congrats to Dean for his promotion to Assistant Professor!
7/1/2019: Welcome Vani Yadav to the lab!
4/1/2019: Congrats to Julia for successfully defending her M.S. thesis!
9/24/2018: Welcome Zachary Thompson to the lab!
3/30/2018: Congrats to Huimin, Devin, and Jon for successfully defending their M.S. theses!
2/14/2018: Congrats to Jon and Devin for being accepted into the Medical Physics Ph.D. Program!
9/6/2017: Welcome Julia Bresticker to the lab!
5/10/2017: Welcome Huimin Zhang to the lab!
12/1/2016: Congrats to Dean for his promotion to BIAC faculty and Medical Instructor of Radiology!
9/20/2016: Welcome Devin Willey, Jonathan Cuthbertson, and Yixin Ma to the lab!
5/31/2016: Welcome Sebastian Luce to the lab!
3/23/2016: Congrats to Hongyuan for successfully defending his M.S. thesis!
6/30/2015: Welcome Hongyuan Wang to the lab!