@article{UmutluBitzMaderwaldetal.2013,
  author    = {Umutlu, Lale and Bitz, Andreas and Maderwald, Stefan and Orzada, Stephan and Kinner, Sonja and Kraff, Oliver and Brote, Irina and Ladd, Susanne C. and Schroeder, Tobias and Forsting, Michael},
  title     = {Contrast-enhanced ultra-high-field liver MRI: a feasibility trial},
  series = {European Journal of Radiology},
  volume    = {82},
  journal   = {European Journal of Radiology},
  number    = {5},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0720-048X},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.ejrad.2011.07.004},
  pages     = {760 -- 767},
  year      = {2013},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KraffBitzBreyeretal.2011,
  author    = {Kraff, Oliver and Bitz, Andreas and Breyer, Tobias and Kruszona, Stefan and Maderwald, Stefan and Brote, Irina and Gizewski, Elke R. and Ladd, Mark E. and Quick, Harald H.},
  title     = {A transmit/receive radiofrequency array for imaging the carotid arteries at 7 Tesla: coil design and first in vivo results},
  series = {Investigative Radiology},
  volume    = {46},
  journal   = {Investigative Radiology},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Wolters Kluwer},
  address   = {K{\"o}ln},
  issn      = {1536-0210},
  doi       = {10.1097/RLI.0b013e318206cee4},
  pages     = {246 -- 254},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Objective: To develop a transmit/receive radiofrequency (RF) array for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the carotid arteries at 7 T. The prototype is characterized in numerical simulations and bench measurements, and the feasibility of plaque imaging at 7 T is demonstrated in first in vivo images. Materials and Methods: The RF phased array coil consists of 8 surface loop coils. To allow imaging of both sides of the neck, the RF array is divided into 2 coil clusters, each with 4 overlapping loop elements. For safety validation, numerical computations of the RF field distribution and the corresponding specific absorption rate were performed on the basis of a heterogeneous human body model. To validate the coil model, maps of the transmit B1+ field were compared between simulation and measurement. In vivo images of a healthy volunteer and a patient (ulcerating plaque and a 50\% stenosis of the right internal carotid artery) were acquired using a 3-dimensional FLASH sequence with a high isotropic spatial resolution of 0.54 mm as well as using pulse-triggered proton density (PD)/T2-weighted turbo spin echo sequences. Results: Measurements of the S-parameters yielded a reflection and isolation of the coil elements of better than -18 and -13 dB, respectively. Measurements of the g-factor indicated good image quality for parallel imaging acceleration factors up to 2.4. A similar distribution and a very good match of the absolute values were found between the measured and simulated B1+ transmit RF field for the validation of the coil model. In vivo images revealed good signal excitation of both sides of the neck and a high vessel-to-background image contrast for the noncontrast-enhanced 3-dimensional FLASH sequence. Imaging at 7 T could depict the extent of stenosis, and revealed the disruption and ulcer of the plaque. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that 2 four-channel transmit/receive RF arrays for each side of the neck is a suitable concept for in vivo MRI of the carotid arteries at 7 Tesla. Further studies are needed to explore and exploit the full potential of 7 T high-field MRI for carotid atherosclerotic plaque imaging.},
  language  = {en}
}