Theoretical arguments and experimental results are presented that characterize the impact of inductive coupling on the performance of parallel MRI reconstructions. A simple model of MR signal and noise reception suggests that the intrinsic amount of spatial information available from a given coil array is unchanged in the presence of inductive coupling, as long as the sample remains the dominant source of noise for the coupled array. Any loss of distinctness in the measured coil sensitivities is compensated by information stored in the measured noise correlations. Adjustments to the theory are described to account for preamplifier noise contributions. Results are presented from an experimental system in which preamplifier input impedances are systematically adjusted in order to vary the level of coupling between array elements. Parallel image reconstructions using an array with four different levels of coupling and an acceleration factor up to six show average SNR changes of -7.6% to +7.5%. The modest changes in overall SNR are accompanied by similarly small changes in g-factor. These initial results suggest that moderate amounts of inductive coupling should not have a prohibitive effect on the use of a given coil array for parallel MRI.
Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.