Hybrid spatial and circuit optimization for targeted performance of MRI coils

A drive system for a multi-coil magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:

• two or more coils utilized for imaging a tissue of interest;
• a drive circuit for driving the two or more coils;
• a controller having a processor and software loaded on tangible memory adapted to perform:
• establish initial circuit values of a drive circuit;
• load a tissue model associated with a tissue to be imaged;
• load target values for a variable of interest (VOI) associated with operation of two or more coils of a magnetic resonance imaging system;
• perform a simulation based on the established circuit values and the loaded tissue model;
• determine output values of the VOI based on the simulation;
• compare the simulated output values of the VOI to the loaded target values of the VOI;
• if the simulated output values are outside of a predetermined envelope about the loaded target values of the VOI, then perform a first optimization, wherein the first optimization includes:
• establish a cost function based on the VOI, and
• iteratively adjust the cost function by iteratively adjusting the circuit values until the cost function changes between iterations is less than a predetermined threshold,
• re-simulating,
• re-compare the simulated output values of the VOI to the loaded target values of the VOI until the simulated output values are within the predetermined envelope, thereby establishing VOI optimized values;
• and
• load the established VOI optimized values in order to operate the magnetic resonance imaging system on the tissue to be imaged.