In vivo rabbit gastrointestinal wall imaging using endoluminal coil

Feasibility of gastrointestinal walls imaging using endoluminal coils is described. A single-loop coil was built to be inserted into a gastric tube. Endoluminal coil performance was evaluated on a 1.5 T clinical scanner and in vivo high-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of rabbit gastrointestinal walls was performed. Images allow visualization and identification of rabbit gastrointestinal walls. Tuning/matching circuit and decoupling strategies are described. Tracking capabilities and safety issues are discussed. Dedicated endoluminal RF coil provided a dramatic increase in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the region of interest as compared with clinical multi-elements array coil. Very high resolution images of in vivo rabbit colon walls was achieved providing detailed information about the gastrointestinal wall layers. This technique could be considered on human for accurate tumoral and inflammatory bowel diseases diagnosis.