Development of a Two-Dimensional Resonator Design Tool

Abstract

One of the engineering challenges in high-field MRI is to have a homogeneous distribution of the RF magnetic field inside human tissue. In this project we develop a design tool for a HEM wrist applicator that has the ability to generate a homogeneous magnetic field inside human wrist. By taking into account the dominant RF scattering effects inside the wrist we can design the HEM applicator by applying high permittivity materials in such a way that we can compensate for these scattering effects. In this research project we start by developing a two-dimensional layered cylindrical model for the wrist. The wrist will be excited by line sources located on the outside of the two-dimensional HEM applicator. For this model we can derive a closed-form analytical solution of the electromagnetic RF field in terms of Bessel functions. This model serves as a canonical problem to investigate how the high permittivity materials in the HEM applicator change the homogeneity of the magnetic field. This two-dimensional model will be implemented in Matlab. The results of this canonical model will be translated to a HEM applicator of finite dimension. The designed HEM applicator's field distribution will be simulated with the commercial software package CST and compared to the results obtained for the canonical model.