Binary-coded multiplexing acquisition for flexible receiver arrays in Magnetic Particle Imaging

Abstract

Magnetic Particle Imaging is a tracer-based technique offering high sensitivity, zero tissue background, and quantitative detection. However, conventional rigid receiver coils limit imaging flexibility; when applied to curved body regions, coil–tissue distance increases toward the edges, reducing sensitivity. Flexible receiver arrays composed of many small coils can conform to body curvature and enhance coupling, but scaling up coil numbers greatly increases data acquisition complexity. This work presents a binary-coded and time-division multiplexed acquisition scheme that efficiently encodes coil position and signal strength using limited channels. Through binary decoding and sequential mapping, numerous coil signals can be read via few ports, achieving spatial and amplitude dual encoding. The method reduces channel requirements, enables compact flexible arrays, and may help mitigate spatial symmetry ambiguity in open-field rotational encoding, offering a scalable path toward wearable MPI systems.