High field MREIT: Setup and tissue phantom imaging at 11 T

Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) has the potential to provide conductivity and current density images with high spatial resolution and accuracy. Recent experimental studies at a field strength of 3 T showed that the spatial resolution of conductivity and current density images may be similar to that of conventional MR images as long as enough current is injected, at least 20 mA when the object being imaged has a size similar to the human head. To apply the MREIT technique to image small conductivity changes using less injection current, we performed MREIT studies at 11 T field strength, where noise levels in measured magnetic flux density data are significantly lower. In this paper we present the experimental results of imaging biological tissues with different conductivity values using MREIT at 11 T. We describe technical difficulties encountered in using high-field MREIT systems and possible solutions. High-field MREIT is suggested as a research tool for obtaining accurate conductivity data from tissue samples and animal subjects.