# Bioresorbable RF Coils For Post-Surgical Monitoring by MRI

> **NIH NIH R21** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $260,360

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The overarching goal of this project is to develop and evaluate implantable and bioresorbable radio frequency
(RF) coils for high-resolution and high-specicity post-surgical monitoring with magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI). The immediate target application of this work is the evaluation of peripheral nerve regeneration following
surgical repair. Surgical repair of nerve is common following traumatic injury, but outcomes are highly variable.
MRI oers potential to monitor response of the nerve to surgical repair; however, it can be a challenge to
acquire MRI with sucient spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for robust characterization of nerve
regeneration.
 The use of a small, local RF coil for MRI signal reception is known to substantially increase SNR and enable
higher image resolution over a targeted volume of tissue. Such coils have been demonstrated eective in animal
studies and here we propose to harness recent advances in bioresorbable electronics technology to create biore-
sorbable RF coils that are suitable for clinical applications. Specically, we will develop and evaluate coils for the
purpose of quantitatively evaluating nerve regeneration following surgical repair. In aim 1, we will design and
fabricate a wide range of dierent bioresorbable RF coils, suitable imaging nerves of dierent sizes and locations.
In aim 2, we will experimentally test these coils in normal rats, rats that have undergone an experimental nerve
injury, and in human cadaver arms.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10126848
- **Project number:** 5R21EB027881-02
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MARK D DOES
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $260,360
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10126848

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10126848, Bioresorbable RF Coils For Post-Surgical Monitoring by MRI (5R21EB027881-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10126848. Licensed CC0.

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