Tailored birdcage resonator for magnetic resonance imaging at 7T using 3D printing

This study outlines the design, construction and characterization of a tailored low-cost linear birdcage (BC) resonator for magnetic resonance imaging at 7T. Typically, different BC designs found in literature are well described in theory but lack crucial information for practical realization. This is challenging, as theoretical and practical aspects often differ greatly from each other, especially in the field of high frequency technology. We propose a simple and open-source 3D printable design which results in a working BC if the instructions in this publication are followed. The aim is to open up the possibility of building a functioning BC with simple means and a budget below 750€, even for users without a great deal of expertise in MRI coil building. We demonstrate that the BC can achieve a good B1 field homogeneity using the double angle method. The proposed design is qualitatively compared to a commercially available resonator. Both perform equally well in terms of SNR and image quality.