NeuroCam™ Plus
MR Head & Neck Coil with 32 or 64 Independent Receive Elements and Field Probes for High Image Quality and Extended Neck Coverage at 7T.
Related Applications: Diffusion Imaging, fMRI
Challenges
- Limited coverage of the neck region at 7 Tesla restricts access to anatomically and clinically relevant areas beyond the brain, despite the cervical spine being important in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Achieving reliable coverage of the cervical spine at 7 Tesla is considerably more difficult than at 1.5T or 3T, because 7T systems lack a body transmit coil and rely on local transmit arrays with limited spatial coverage, constraining excitation and sensitivity across the seven cervical vertebrae (C1–C7) and the thoracic vertebra (T1).
- Strong field fluctuations originating from both hardware instabilities and physiological motion noticeably degrade image quality at ultra‑high field strength.
- High‑performance MRI systems operating close to the technical limits of gradient and RF hardware inevitably exhibit non‑linearities that influence image fidelity and geometric accuracy.
- Advanced non‑Cartesian encoding schemes are highly attractive for neuroimaging at 7T but require very accurate knowledge of the actual encoding fields to prevent artifacts.
- Simultaneously achieving high signal‑to‑noise ratio and high spatial resolution remains a central challenge at ultra‑high field strength, despite both being essential for advanced neuro‑ and neurovascular imaging.
MRI has fundamentally advanced the study of neurodegenerative diseases by enabling non‑invasive, high‑resolution assessment of structural and microstructural changes in the central nervous system. The advent of ultra‑high field (UHF) MRI at 7 Tesla and beyond has further expanded these capabilities, allowing subtle pathological features, such as cortical lamination changes, small lesions, and microvascular alterations, to be detected with unprecedented sensitivity. Importantly, many neurodegenerative disorders affect not only the brain but also the cervical spinal cord, making extended head‑and‑neck coverage essential for comprehensive disease characterization.
Despite the clear advantages of UHF MRI, imaging the brain and cervical spine within a single examination presents significant technical challenges. The demand for both high signal‑to‑noise ratio and high spatial resolution is particularly acute in neurodegenerative research, where small lesions, early biomarkers, and longitudinal changes must be reliably detected. Achieving these requirements simultaneously is constrained by limitations inherent to ultra‑high field systems, including restricted RF excitation coverage, field instabilities, and increased sensitivity to system non‑linearities. Continued innovation in RF coil design, parallel transmission and reception, and advanced reconstruction techniques is therefore critical for addressing these challenges and enabling robust, high‑quality imaging across the brain–spine axis in neurodegenerative disease research.
NeuroCamTM Plus
Head & neck coil with integrated field monitoring for comprehensive neurodegenerative and neurovascular imaging at 7 Tesla
The NeuroCam™ Plus head and neck coil extends the NeuroCam™ 7T concept beyond brain‑only imaging, enabling simultaneous high‑resolution imaging of the brain, cervical spinal cord, and neck vessels within a single examination. It was specifically developed to address the needs of neurodegenerative and neurovascular research, where pathology frequently spans multiple regions of the neuroaxis.
At ultra‑high field strength, many neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis or motor neuron disease, affect not only the brain but also the posterior fossa, brainstem, and cervical spinal cord. Conventional 7T head coils typically truncate coverage at the skull base or upper cervical levels, limiting the ability to detect lesions, assess disease spread, or study brain–spine interactions. NeuroCam™ Plus overcomes this limitation by providing extended longitudinal coverage to the lower cervical spine (C7) up to the thoracic (T1) region, while preserving high performance in the brain.
The coil builds on the tight‑fitting geometry and sensitivity‑optimized design philosophy of NeuroCam™ 7T, ensuring excellent coil‑to‑head coupling and high signal‑to‑noise ratio. An 8‑channel transceiver array arranged in a dual‑row (6 + 2) configuration, combined with a high‑density receive array extending into the neck, enables homogeneous excitation and robust signal reception across both brain and cervical spine. This design allows for a seamless transition between brain‑focused imaging and combined brain–spine imaging without hardware changes.
Advanced Coverage
While standard 7T head coils typically limit coverage to the skull base or C2/C3, NeuroCam™ Plus extends the field of view to T1, enabling:
- Neurodegenerative disease assessment: Detection and characterization of cervical spinal cord lesions and brainstem involvement, which are critical in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and motor neuron disease.
- Neurovascular imaging across the entire neuroaxis: Visualization of the carotid and vertebral arteries from the neck through to their intracranial segments, supporting studies of vascular pathology, stroke mechanisms, and perfusion.
- Nerve root and plexus assessment: High‑resolution imaging of the cervical spine and the brachial plexus (originating from C5 to T1), allowing investigation of neurogenic symptoms and secondary degeneration.
The NeuroCam™ Plus provides markedly extended sensitivity into the cervical spine. The increased coverage enables reliable visualization of the cervicomedullary junction and lower cervical spinal cord (arrows in figure below), demonstrating clear advantages for combined brain-spine and neurodegenerative disease imaging at ultra‑high field.
Sagittal T2‑weighted (A, C) and T1‑weighted (B, D) images acquired with a conventional 7T head coil (NeuroCam™ 7T; A, B) and the NeuroCam™ Plus head and neck coil (C, D).
While standard 7T head coils provide high‑quality visualization of intracranial vessels, coverage of cervical and proximal neck vessels rapidly diminishes below the skull base. In contrast, NeuroCam™ Plus enables continuous visualization of the neurovascular tree from the intracranial circulation through the carotid bifurcation and into the lower cervical vessels (arrows in figure below), including the common, internal, and external carotid arteries as well as vertebral arteries. This extended vascular coverage supports comprehensive neurovascular and neurodegenerative disease imaging, where pathology often spans both intracranial and cervical regions.
Sagittal structural reference images (A, B) and corresponding coronal angiographic maximum‑intensity projections (C, D) acquired with a conventional 7T head coil (NeuroCam™ 7T; A, C) and the NeuroCam™ Plus head and neck coil (B, D).
Subject Accessibility
Ultra‑high‑field MRI places strict geometric constraints on RF coil design, which can limit subject comfort and restrict inclusion of subjects with varying head and neck anatomies. NeuroCam™ Plus addresses this challenge through a redesigned coil housing optimized for anatomical variability, enabling robust imaging across a broad population range.
The coil geometry was developed to accommodate head and neck dimensions spanning from the 5th to the 95th population percentile, ensuring consistent positioning and coverage for research subjects with both smaller and larger anatomies. The extended posterior and inferior housing design maintains close coil‑to‑tissue coupling while allowing sufficient clearance at the face and neck, reducing discomfort and facilitating accurate subject positioning.
By balancing tight‑fitting sensitivity‑optimized geometry with increased anterior and lateral access, NeuroCam™ Plus supports inclusive study design, improved subject tolerance, and reliable data quality, particularly important for longer examinations and vulnerable populations often involved in neurodegenerative and neurovascular research.
Novel Transmit Array Concept
At 7 Tesla, the absence of a body transmit coil requires RF excitation to be performed using local transmit arrays with inherently limited spatial coverage. This constraint becomes particularly pronounced when imaging the head-neck transition and cervical spine, where conventional single‑row transmit arrays lead to a rapid drop in transmit efficiency and field homogeneity.
NeuroCam™ Plus addresses this challenge through a dual‑row 8‑channel transceiver design, consisting of six transmit elements optimized for the brain and two additional elements positioned to extend excitation into the lower neck and cervical spine. This 6 + 2 configuration enables seamless control of the longitudinal excitation profile, providing homogeneous B1⁺ coverage across both intracranial and cervical regions without compromising brain image quality.
The lower transmit elements substantially increase transmit efficiency in the cervical spine, enabling reliable excitation of the brainstem, cervicomedullary junction, and spinal cord, regions that are typically poorly excited with standard 7T head coils.
Coil configuration
- Six elements in the top row instead of the conventional eight channels
- Two elements in the lower row to image the C-spine
Simplified Setup for Scientific Studies
Unobstructed Visual Field for Subject Comfort
NeuroCam™ Plus retains the unobstructed visual field of view concept introduced with NeuroCam™ 7T, ensuring a clear line of sight for visual stimulation and increased subject comfort during ultra‑high‑field MRI studies. Despite the extended head‑and‑neck coverage and additional hardware integration, the coil enclosure is designed to minimally obstruct the subject’s frontal and rear visual fields.
As with NeuroCam™ 7T, detachable mirror options can be used to enable visual contact with the magnet room or to support stimulus presentation, while the compact integration of transmit, receive, and field‑monitoring components ensures that no additional structures intrude into the subject’s view.
By preserving this key ergonomic feature, NeuroCam™ Plus supports behavioural, functional, and longitudinal studies where subject comfort, compliance, and stable visual conditions are essential.
The detachable front-view mirror can be placed on top of the transmit coil to allow the subject to see the magnet room on the patient-side of the bore. The position on the coil can be adjusted via a sliding mechanism.
A detachable rear-view mirror can be attached to the enclosure of the receiver array for visual stimulation.
The enclosure of the receiver array is designed to minimally obstruct the visual field.
Field Monitoring
Field Monitoring with NYOX
Like NeuroCam™ 7T, NeuroCam™ Plus is available with fully integrated magnetic field probes, providing direct access to Skope’s field‑monitoring technology for stable and reproducible ultra‑high‑field MRI. The integration of field probes enables concurrent measurement of the actual encoding fields during data acquisition, forming the basis for accurate reconstruction and correction of system‑ and subject‑induced field fluctuations.
NeuroCam™ Plus benefits from Skope’s latest generation of field‑monitoring hardware, featuring a significantly miniaturized frontend electronics module that is fully integrated into the rear half‑pipe of the coil housing. This compact integration reduces external hardware, simplifies cable routing, and preserves subject comfort and accessibility.
The field‑probe electronics on the coil are equipped with a robust ODU connector, allowing fast and reliable connection to the NYOX base unit, which is typically installed behind the scanner. When field monitoring is not required, no additional connections are needed, ensuring maximum workflow flexibility.
The fully integrated field probes enable precise monitoring of complex, time‑varying encoding fields. This capability is essential for advanced acquisition strategies—such as non‑Cartesian trajectories and highly accelerated imaging—commonly employed in 7 Tesla neuroimaging.
Versions
Designed for tomorrow
NeuroCamTM Plus exists in three versions, each tailored to meet specific imaging needs. Choose from our Standard, Advanced, and Excellence versions, each offering unique features and capabilities for exceptional neuroimaging performance.
STANDARD
The Standard version of the NeuroCamTM Plus is a powerful and versatile option that delivers exceptional imaging capabilities. It includes a state-of-the-art MR head coil with 8 transmit and 32 or 64 receive channels. This configuration provides excellent signal reception and allows for precise imaging of the brain. With its advanced technology and reliable performance, the Standard version offers a comprehensive solution for a wide range of imaging needs
ADVANCED
The Advanced version provides the flexibility to upgrade to the Excellence version in the future, allowing you to expand the system’s capabilities as your needs evolve. With its exceptional imaging capabilities and upgrade potential, the Advanced version offers a reliable and future-proof solution.
EXCELLENCE
The Excellence version represents the pinnacle of our MR solution offerings, designed to deliver uncompromising image quality and advanced functionality. In addition to the MR head coil, the Excellence version features a 16-channel field probe array. This innovative array enables precise monitoring and compensation for field fluctuations, resulting in highly accurate and artifact-free imaging. With the Excellence version, you can achieve outstanding image quality and stability, especially for challenging imaging schemes. It offers the most comprehensive solution for cutting-edge research and advanced applications.
Supporting Material
Integration into MRI setup
Extensive documentation
The NeuroCamTM Plus users benefit from comprehensive technical documentation, providing them with substantial flexibility and the capability to conduct additional RF simulations. This documentation encompasses details on coil design, CAD models, bench and scanner test results, MR compatibility information, simulation reports, and more.
CAD Model
Technical Report
EM Coil Model
DICOM Viewer
Disclaimer
The NeuroCam™ Plus coil was developed within the NEUROQUANT project, a collaborative initiative focused on advancing neurovascular MRI technologies for Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy monitoring. The project brought together Skope, MR CoilTech, Gold Standard Phantoms, and Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, and was supported by joint funding from Innovate UK and Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency.
Some features of the product are still under development and not commercially available yet. Their future availability cannot be ensured. All data and information contained on this webpage are legally not binding and shall not create any warranties or liabilities whatsoever of Skope. CAUTION – Investigational device. Limited by Federal law to investigational use.
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