Enhancing PET/MRI capabilities with advanced AIR™ coils for carotid imaging

Summary

This PhD project aims to develop GE HealthCare's AIR™ coil technology for PET/MRI systems, focusing on carotid imaging. The collaboration between GE HealthCare and the University of Cambridge will produce high-performance AIR™ coils to improve PET/MR imaging's sensitivity and specificity.

PET/MR is valuable for assessing carotid atherosclerosis by combining PET data with high-resolution morphological and functional MR imaging. However, imaging the carotid arteries poses challenges due to varying neck sizes, carotid positions, and limitations in the number of elements in current RF coils, usually ≤6.

These coils also attenuate PET signal photons. GE HealthCare’s AIR™ coils, with their flexible design, small diameter elements, and miniaturized pre-amplifiers, offer a solution by increasing element density and reducing PET signal attenuation. 

Project aims

The project involves developing a multi-element, high-performance AIR™ coil for PET/MR carotid wall imaging. The initial six months will be dedicated to learning the principles of RF coil design, construction and testing at the University of Cambridge.

The first year includes time at GE HealthCare’s coil development centre in the US. Months 7-18 focus on iteratively designing, tuning/matching, and safety testing the coil.

Months 19-24 will assess the PET attenuation and collect preliminary volunteer data.

Months 25-30 involve collaboration with cardiovascular and stroke clinicians to study carotid atheroma with dedicated PET tracers, e.g. 68Ga-DOTATATE.

The final phase will focus on writing results for publication and the PhD thesis.

Contact details

Martin Graves - mjg40@cam.ac.uk

Opportunities

This project is open to applicants who want to do a:

• PhD