The Neurophysiology Imaging Facility (NIF) requires a replacement RF volume coil to improve reliability and mitigate RF transmit-receive coupling issues observed with specific receive arrays during 7T MRI studies. The existing coil, manufactured by Resonance Research Inc. (RRI), has exhibited repeated mechanical and electrical failures—specifically, broken tuning rods and unstable coupling behavior with large-loop receive coils.
This procurement seeks to acquire a new volume transmit coil with improved mechanical durability and a modified design that reduces transmit-receive coupling. Enhanced decoupling will reduce flip angle inhomogeneity and T1 contrast variation, thereby improving image quality and consistency in functional and structural MRI experiments.
The upgrade i essential to ensure compatibility with current and future receive coil configurations, maintain high data fidelity, and support ongoing NIH-funded neuroscience research.
