Research
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Trong-Kha Truong, Ph.D.
trongkha.truong [at] duke.edu
Dean Darnell, Ph.D.
dean.darnell [at] duke.edu
Devin Willey
devin.willey [at] duke.edu
Yixin Ma
yixin.ma [at] duke.edu
Jonathan Cuthbertson
jonathan.cuthbertson [at] duke.edu
Zachary Thompson
zachary.thompson [at] duke.edu
Vani Yadav
vani.yadav [at] duke.edu
Allen W. Song, Ph.D.
allen.song [at] duke.edu
Lab Alumni
Julia Bresticker
Huimin Zhang
Duke Kunshan University
Sebastian Luce
Hongyuan Wang
Duke Kunshan University
ISMRM 2019
GRS/GRC 2018
ISMRM 2018
Graduation 2018
Duke team photo Op
ISMRM 2017
