P-31-H-1 dual-tuned quadrature birdcage head coil for clinical imaging and proton-decoupled spectroscopy at 1.5 T

This paper construct and evaluate a new dual-tuned resonator, capable or circularly polarized operation at both 1H and 31P frequencies, for acquisition of proton images and proton decoupled 3-D CSI phosphorus spectra at 1.5 T. A new 16-leg birdcage head coil has been constructed which is capable of operating in a circularly polarized mode simultaneously at both proton and phosphorus frequencies. Reduced circuit interactions between frequencies permit noniterative tuning and mode alignment when operating the coil in spatial quadrature. 1H images and 31P spectra were obtained with use of a Siemens Magnetom clinical imager/spectrometer and compared with those obtained with use of single-tuned coils. Free induction decays were acquired with and without decoupling power