Düx Daniel M, Kowal Robert, Knull Lucas, Schröer Simon, Belker Othmar, Horstmann Dominik, Gutt Moritz, Maune Holger, Speck Oliver, Wacker Frank, Hensen Bennet, Gutberlet Marcel
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Research Campus STIMULATE, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
Eur Radiol Exp. 2025 Jan 30;9(1):13. doi: 10.1186/s41747-024-00549-8.
Metasurface coils (MCs) are a promising magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. Aiming to evaluate the image quality of MCs for knee and elbow imaging, we compared signal-to-noise ratio (SNRs) obtained in standard clinical setups.
Knee and elbow MRI routine sequences were applied at 1.5 T, implementing four coil scenarios: (1) 15-channel transmit/receive knee coil; (2) four-channel multipurpose coil (flex coil); (3) MC + spine coil; and (4) MC + multipurpose coil. Three regions of interest (ROIs) at different anatomical depths were compared.
Seven participants (aged 28 ± 2 years; 6 males) were enrolled. In elbow MRI, the MC + spine coil demonstrated the highest SNR across all ROIs (superficial-anterior: +114%, p = 0.008; middle: +147%, p = 0.008; deep-posterior: +24%, p = 0.039) compared to the flex coil and all ROIs, except the deepest from the MC, compared to the knee coil (superficial-anterior: +28%, p = 0.016; middle: +104%, p = 0.008; deep-posterior: -1%, p = 0.531). In knee MRI, the MC + spine coil provided higher SNR compared to the flex coil, except posterior (superficial-anterior: +69%, p = 0.008; middle: +288%, p = 0.008; deep-posterior: -12%, p = 0.148) versus the knee coil, the MC + spine coil was superior in the middle but non-different in superficial pre-patellar areas and less in deep-posterior areas (superficial-anterior: -8%, p = 0.188; middle: +44%, p = 0.008; deep-posterior: -36%, p = 0.016).
Wireless MCs exhibited great potential for knee and elbow MRI outperforming the flex coil. Future developments will improve the posterior illumination to increase its clinical value.
MCs offer enhanced versatility, flexibility, and patient comfort. If universal MC designs can achieve image quality comparable to those of standard coils and simultaneously be utilized across multiple body areas, the technology may revolutionize future musculoskeletal MRIs.
MCs are promising in MRI, but homogeneity is challenging depending on the design. Signal-to-noise-ratio was improved for knee and elbow imaging with slight inhomogeneous illumination. MCs could match the image quality of standard coils in both knee and elbow imaging.
超表面线圈（MCs）是一种很有前景的磁共振成像（MRI）技术。为了评估MCs用于膝关节和肘关节成像的图像质量，我们比较了在标准临床设置中获得的信噪比（SNRs）。
在1.5T下应用膝关节和肘关节MRI常规序列，实施四种线圈方案：（1）15通道发射/接收膝关节线圈；（2）四通道多功能线圈（柔性线圈）；（3）MC + 脊柱线圈；（4）MC + 多功能线圈。比较了不同解剖深度的三个感兴趣区域（ROIs）。
招募了7名参与者（年龄28±2岁；6名男性）。在肘关节MRI中，与柔性线圈相比，MC + 脊柱线圈在所有ROIs中显示出最高的SNR（浅前部：+114%，p = 0.008；中部：+147%，p = 0.008；深后部：+24%，p = 0.039），与膝关节线圈相比，除了MC最深的ROIs外，所有ROIs的SNR也更高（浅前部：+28%，p = 0.016；中部：+104%，p = 0.008；深后部：-1%，p = 0.531）。在膝关节MRI中，与柔性线圈相比，MC + 脊柱线圈除后部外提供了更高的SNR（浅前部：+69%，p = 0.008；中部：+288%，p = 0.008；深后部：-12%，p = 0.148），与膝关节线圈相比，MC + 脊柱线圈在中部更优，但在髌前浅部区域无差异，在深后部区域更低（浅前部：-8%，p = 0.188；中部：+44%，p = 0.008；深后部：-36%，p = 0.016）。
无线MCs在膝关节和肘关节MRI中表现出巨大潜力，优于柔性线圈。未来的发展将改善后部照明以提高其临床价值。
MCs具有更高的通用性、灵活性和患者舒适度。如果通用的MC设计能够实现与标准线圈相当的图像质量，并同时应用于多个身体部位，该技术可能会彻底改变未来的肌肉骨骼MRI。
MCs在MRI中很有前景，但根据设计，均匀性具有挑战性。膝关节和肘关节成像的信噪比得到改善，照明略有不均匀。MCs在膝关节和肘关节成像中都能匹配标准线圈的图像质量。
