UHF Propagation in the Magnetic Resonance Bore

The magnetic resonance (MR) bore´s structure, loading parameters, and material makeup greatly influence the ability of a frequency-specific signal to propagate. The relative path loss behavior of the MR bore has been determined experimentally at ultra-high frequencies (UHFs). An experiment is conducted to determine signal attenuation when the bore is empty (air-filled) or dielectrically loaded (patient-filled). This information is especially important to the wireless network designer who is implementing an in-bore physiological monitoring network. Experimental results show that the MR bore exhibits impressive path loss performance at 434 MHz, with greatest signal strength arriving at the receiver when the bore is dielectrically loaded.