Improved field homogenity for microstrip transceiver array for 7T MRI using particle swarm optimization

Microstrip resonators (MSR) show great promise for application to high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, the conventional MSR produces an inhomogenous field that is strong in the center and weak at the terminating ends. Recent work investigated the application of alternating impedance MSR to improve field homogeneity. Building from these efforts, a new variable impedance MSR configuration is proposed by allowing variation in element size and spacing. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations and particle swarm optimization (PSO) are used to arrive at an optimal design.