FONAR has been designing and manufacturing receiver coils in-house since its inception in 1978, and has remained a leader in receiver coil design ever since. FONAR has several in-house teams of high-level scientists and engineers devoted to improving existing receiver coil designs and introducing new ones.

Solenoid Receiver Coils
FONAR’s first receiver coils, or surface coils, were solenoid receiver coils. These coils are basically wrapped around the region of interest. The solenoid receiver coil has been and continues to be a perfect match for FONAR scanners. It is a fundamental fact of physics that optimal Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNR) are achieved when the axis of the receiver coil is perpendicular to the direction of the scanner’s magnetic field. Such is the case with every FONAR MRI ever made, including the Stand-Up MRI.

For example, with the patient lying down with a solenoid coil around his waist, the axis of the solenoid coil runs along the length of the body. In combination with either a vertical or a horizontal magnetic field (as is the case with the Upright™ MRI), the coil axis is perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field. Note that in the case of the Stand-Up MRI, this optimal right-angle relationship is preserved whether the patient is standing, sitting bending or lying down.

With superconductive MRI scanners, the horizontal magnetic field would be parallel, rather than perpendicular, to the solenoid coil axis. Therefore these scanners cannot capitalize on the SNR advantage of the solenoid design are forced to use less efficient receiver coil designs instead.

While continuing to improve and expand its solenoid receiver coil package, FONAR has also successfully developed other types of highly efficient receiver coils.

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Cervical Solenoid Coil
FONAR’S flexible Cervical Solenoid Coil optimizes imaging of the cervical spine. In the photo, the patient’s head was immobilized for a cervical spine study in the neutral position. The coil is also ideally suited for Position Imaging™ (pMRI™) applications of the cervical spine, including flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral bending.

Expanded Diameter Solenoid Cervical Coil
The Expanded Diameter Solenoid Cervical Coil is for patients that require a more loosely fitting coil in order to flex, extend or bend their necks as far as they are able to. pMRI™ applications give the referring physician the most complete picture of the patient’s condition.

High-performance Spine and Body Coil Set (45-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch circumferences)
These flexible wraparound coils provide uniform posterior-to-anterior signal intensity and extended longitudinal coverage for spine and body imaging. The user can choose the optimal patient filling-factor to increase SNR.

Signal Plus™ Open Head Coil
The Signal Plus™ Open Head Coil employs an advanced multi-conductor design that provides the high Signal-to-Noise Ratios necessary for neuroimaging applications.

Signal Plus™ Knee
This circular multi-conductor receiver coil for knee imaging can also be used for the thigh, calf and ankle.

Wrist Coil
The FONAR wrist coil is a rigid, multi-conductor receiver coil optimized for high-resolution wrist or small extremity imaging.

Planar T-L (Thoracic-Lumbar) Coil
The Planar Thoracic-Lumbar Coil is placed directly behind the patient’s back. The patient leans against the coil and sits comfortably throughout the scan.

Shoulder Coil - Seated
FONAR’s shoulder coil employs a unique double-planar design. The coil, which can be used on either shoulder, interfaces with an immobilization fixture that attaches to the patient bed.

Quadrature Head Coil
The Quadrature Head Coil provides excellent neuroimaging capabilities. It can be used with the patient in either an upright or recumbent posture. Adjustable movement inhibitors keep the patient’s head immobilized throughout the scan. The large spaces between the coil conductors allow the patient an unobstructed view of a TV mounted on the scanner room wall.

VersaRest™ Fixture
The VersaRest™ fixture provides the patient with something sturdy to lean on during the scan, making the patient comfortable and reducing body motion. For example, for flexion studies of the lumbar spine, patients bend forward at the hip and comfortably rest their forearms on the VersaRest™ fixture. The VersaRest™ fixture can be placed anywhere in the patient gap, and is easily installed or removed in a few seconds.

Quadrature Knee Coil
The Upright™ MRI is the ONLY MRI scanner capable of performing weight-bearing extremity studies. Weight-bearing knee scans can be done with the patient standing or with the bed tilted back to any selected angle. With the bed tilted back, the patient is usually more comfortable and is better able to remain still throughout the procedure. The coil attaches directly to the bed. Patient positioning is quick and easy.