Investigation of Low-Cost Op-Amps as Decoupling Preamplifiers for MRI Array Coils

The benefits of array coils in MRI and MRS are well known. A key component of essentially all array coils used today is the decoupling preamplifier. Unlike conventional 50 ohm low-noise preamps, decoupling preamps present a reactive impedance to the coil, which can be used to `block' currents from being induced in the receive coil, reducing the impact of any electromagnetic coupling between array elements. While available from a number of vendors, a lower-cost solution would be advantageous. We investigate the use of conventional operational amplifiers as low-noise decoupling preamplifiers. In this paper the performance of the op-amp preamplifier is compared to conventional 50 Ω. The op-amp preamp design shows promise for use as a decoupling preamplifier with array coils.