Abstract: Radiofrequency (RF) coil unit and a housing for the RF coil unit is provided. The RF coil unit can include a substantially annular body having a concave indent along a longitudinal direction along the substantially annular body such that when a head of the patient is inserted into an interior of the substantially annular body, at least a portion of the head of the patient is viewable and accessible from a location exterior to the substantially annular body. The housing for the RF coil unit can include a channel to receive the RF coil unit of a MRI device. The housing can enclose regions with high voltages (e.g., 1000 Volts) and/or separate these regions from patient body parts by, for example, including insulating material, thereby enhancing a safety of the patient.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for an antenna assembly, are disclosed. One apparatus includes a multiple layer printed circuit board (PCB), a dielectric plate, and antenna elements. The PCB includes antenna excitation feed elements, wherein the antenna excitation feed elements are located on a layer of the PCB. A second surface of the dielectric plate is affixed to a first surface of PCB forming gaps adjacent each of the antenna excitation feed elements, wherein a dielectric constant of the dielectric plate, a thickness of the dielectric plate, and a thickness of the gaps are selected based on an operating frequency of wireless signals communicated through the antenna assembly, and based on RF (radio frequency) characteristics of the PCB. Each of the antenna elements are affixed to a first surface of the dielectric plate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simultaneous acquisition of MRI data and PET data of a subject are disclosed. The system can include a RF coil surrounding the subject and a PET detectors array surrounding the RF coil to generate the MRI data and the PET data of the subject, respectively. The system can include a RF shield positioned between the RF coil and the PET detectors array to prevent an interference between the RF coil and the PET detectors array to thereby allow simultaneous acquisition of the MRI data and the PET data without any one of the RF coil, the PET detectors array or the subject being moved during the imaging. The system can include an analysis unit to generate, based on the simultaneously acquired MRI data and PET data, combined PET-MRI images of the subject that include a spatially and temporally registered structural, functional and/or molecular data acquired under identical physiological conditions.