Multi-mode metasurface as a receive coil for magnetic resonance imaging

Sensitivity and diagnostic capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are dictated by the design of radio frequency (RF) receive coils. They must possess several key characteristics, such as a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), for image quality enhancement and multiple channels for scan time reduction. Artificial materials with tailored properties, such as metasurfaces, when used as RF coils, have been shown to deliver increased image quality or scan safety. Here, we suggest and describe a multi-mode metasurface-based coil with two independent receive channels. We experimentally show that such a coil provided a higher SNR than a state-of-the-art dedicated coil. We also demonstrate the feasibility of two intrinsic independent receive channels coexisting on the same frequency, enabling parallel signal acquisition techniques.