Specialized Open-Transmit and flexible receiver Head Coil for High Resolution Ultra-high field fMRI of the Human Somatosensory and Motor Cortex

Abstract This study presents an open-transmit and 24-channel flexible receiver head coil assembly tailored for high-resolution ultra-high field fMRI of the human somatosensory and motor cortex. Leveraging the increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spatial resolution of ultra-high field MRI, we address the technical challenges inherent in fMRI coil design. The open birdcage transmit coil enhances patient comfort and enables visual task implementation, demonstrating superior performance in transmit efficiency and SAR distribution compared to conventional coils. Furthermore, the 24-channel flexible receiver head coil offers enhanced SNR and image quality, facilitating sub-millimeter VASO imaging for precise functional mapping. These advancements provide valuable tools for unraveling the intricacies of somatosensory and motor cortex function. By enriching human brain functional studies, they contribute significantly to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying somatosensory and motor cortex function, with potential implications for clinical applications in neurology and neuroscience research.