Signal-to-noise ratio evaluation in resonant ring metamaterial lenses for MRI applications

Abstract

In this paper, we present a method for the evaluation of the signalto- noise ratio in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coils loaded with resonant ring metamaterial lenses, in the presence of a conducting phantom resembling human tissue. The method accounts for the effects of the discrete and finite structure of the metamaterial. Numerical computations are validated with experimental results, including laboratory measurements and MRI experiments.