Potential and feasibility of parallel MRI at high field

Abstract

This survey focuses on the fusion of two major lines of recent progress in MRI methodology: parallel imaging with receiver coil arrays and the transition to high and ultra-high field strength for human applications. As discussed in this paper, combining the two developments has vast potential due to multiple specific synergies. First, parallel acquisition and high field are highly complementary in terms of their individual advantages and downsides. As a consequence, the joint approach generally offers enhanced flexibility in the design of scanning strategies. Second, increasing resonance frequency changes the electrodynamics of the MR signal in such a way that parallel imaging becomes more effective in large objects. The underlying conceptual and theoretical considerations are reviewed in detail. In further sections, technical challenges and practical aspects are discussed. The feasibility of parallel MRI at ultra-high field is illustrated by current results of parallel human MRI at 7 T. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.