A practical method for 2D multiple-animal MRI.

PURPOSE: To investigate practical methods for achieving routine simultaneous 2D MRI of multiple animals in large-bore experimental scanners. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three four-element array geometries were compared against a standard single-coil configuration in terms of image quality, ease of use, and data efficiency using a four-channel, 4.7 T small animal imaging system. RESULTS: A linear arrangement of volume resonators permits unobstructed animal preparation and use of an imaging protocol that is almost identical to the single-coil configuration without requiring any image correction or other additional postprocessing. Resulting in vivo images were visually indistinguishable from those acquired through the single-coil configuration. CONCLUSION: The efficiency of animal studies employing 2D MRI techniques can be substantially improved by using a linear array of commercially available resonators.