About

Dean F Darnell is an Associate Professor in Radiology at Duke University. He holds a Ph.D. from Baylor University, obtained in 2006, and an M.S. from Duke University, earned in 2015. He is a member of the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center and teaches courses related to medical physics and mathematical methods for medical physicists. His research focus involves medical physics, with an emphasis on brain imaging and analysis, contributing to advancements in medical imaging techniques and analysis methods.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Telecommunications
• Engineering
• Acoustics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Optics
• Electrical engineering
• Physics
• Materials science
• Electronic engineering
• Systems engineering
• Nuclear magnetic resonance

Selected publications

• Real-time shimming of respiration-induced B0 fluctuations in the spinal cord with an integrated RF/shim iPRES(3) coil array

  Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition · 2025-09-16

  article

  Motivation: Minimizing spatial and temporal magnetic field variations is essential for accurate diffusion and functional MRI of the spinal cord. Goal(s): Perform real-time shimming of respiration-induced B0 fluctuations in the spinal cord by using an integrated RF/shim coil array with multiple DC loops per RF coil element (iPRES(3)). Approach: The optimal DC currents to shim the B0 inhomogeneities at any breathing level were updated in real time based on the signal from a respiratory belt while acquiring ∆B0 maps and EPI images. Results: Static and respiration-induced B0 inhomogeneities were reduced by 57.5% and the temporal SNR of the EPI images was increased by 22.9%. Impact: Real-time shimming of the spinal cord with the iPRES(3) coil array can effectively reduce both spatial and temporal B0 variations caused by breathing, which is expected to enable more accurate diffusion and functional MRI of the spinal cord.

  PublisherDOI

• Wireless ‘Smart Cushion’ device, for head motion detection

  Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition · 2025-09-16

  article

  Motivation: Over the years, many ingenious sensors/devices were invented for motion correction, yet very few get used clinically. This is largely because any extra preparation steps or cables can often become hurdles to clinical adoption. The only parts of MRI scanners that patients have no choice to physically interact with are the cushions that they lie on. As such, we built a wireless 'Smart Cushion' device to monitor head motion. Goal(s): To detect and correct for head motion in an unobtrusive way. Approach: A wireless 'Smart Cushion' device was built. Results: The device was tested at 3T and its data enabled motion correction. Impact: Patients have no choice but to interact with the cushions they lie on. A wireless 'Smart Cushion' device, equipped with pressure and temperature sensors, was built to monitor head motion in a manner that would minimally impact clinical workflows.

  PublisherDOI

• Wireless Image Data Transmission in Low-Field MRI Using an integrated Radio-Frequency/Wireless Spiral Transmit-Receive Coil

  Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition · 2025-09-16

  articleSenior author

  Motivation: We propose a low-field integrated RF/Wireless-Cellular coil designed for use in an emergency vehicle to provide reliable wireless transmission of image data on a cellular network to hospitals. Goal(s): Provide easy-to-implement wireless connectivity for low-field scanners in emergency vehicles for remote imaging. Approach: An iRFW-Cellular coil designed for image acquisition and wireless data transmission was used for imaging before modification and wireless data transmission of the images from a moving vehicle or a home to a hospital. Results: The iRFW-Cellular coil was able to wirelessly transmit its images from a vehicle/home to a hospital with no data loss. Impact: Our work allows portable low-field scanners to wirelessly transmit image data from an emergency vehicle, or home, at a remote location over cellular/satellite networks to enable radiologists at distant hospitals to triage patients and provide guidance for onsite care.

  PublisherDOI

• Motion Monitoring using a Wireless Ultrasound-Based Sensor and an Integrated RF/Wireless Coil Array

  Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition · 2024-08-14

  articleSenior author

  A wireless, battery-powered, MR-compatible ultrasound device consisting of an integrated RF/wireless coil, an organ-configuration motion sensor and its associated electronics was used to acquire OCM sensor signals on a healthy volunteer. Signals were obtained that characterized internal motion, which were wirelessly transmitted to the console room. Validation was performed against a real-time MR acquisition.

  PublisherDOI

• An Integrated/Radiofrequency Wireless Neonatal Coil Array with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for Clock Synchronization in MRI

  Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition · 2024-11-26

  articleSenior author

  Motivation: Wireless clock synchronization must be implemented to achieve a wireless MRI receive coil architecture. Goal(s): Our goal was to implement atomic clock timing via global navigation satellites signals (GNSS) to the receive coil in the scanner for high precision clock correction and synchronization. Approach: We performed benchtop measurements to measure the precision of clock correction achievable with GNSS and precision time protocol (PTP), as well as modified an iRFW coil to receive these GNSS signal from within the scanner bore. Results: Bench-top clock measurements showed nanosecond precision time-synchronization using PTP-GNSS, and the iRFW-GNSS successfully acquired atomic clock time signals within the scanner bore. Impact: The iRFW-GNSS coil design can perform the wireless transfer MRI data and clock-syntonization regardless of scanner platform allowing for wide spread adoption of wireless MRI for new and existing scanners.

  PublisherDOI

• Wireless MRI data transfer with an Integrated/Radio-frequency Wireless Spiral Coil Design for low-field portable MRI over cellular networks.

  Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition · 2024-11-26

  articleSenior author

  Motivation: Wireless transmission of MRI data acquired with low-field portable MRI scanners within EMT vehicles over cellular/satellite networks drastically decreases time between stoke onset and imaging for improved patient outcomes. Goal(s): Our goal is to enable wireless communication with an iRFW coil design for simultaneously imaging and wireless cellular/satellite data transfer from within the scanner and an EMT vehicle. Approach: iRFW-Cellular simulations within a portable 70 mT scanner are performed to evaluate its SNR and far-field gain patterns for wireless communication. Results: The iRFW-Cellular simulations showed a uniform SNR in the head and gain patterns appropriate for the wireless transmission of MRI data. Impact: The iRFW-Cellular spiral coil design potentially enables wireless MRI data transfer from a low-field portable MRI scanner inside, or out, of an EMT vehicle for better stroke onset to imaging times.

  PublisherDOI

• Simulations of an integrated RF/wireless neonatal head coil array for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless MRI data transmission

  Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition · 2024-08-14

  articleSenior author

  Neonatal neuroimaging can be significantly improved using a form-fitting, lightweight coil array that is untethered from the scanner for a high SNR and reduced setup time. An iRFW coil array does this by performing simultaneous RF signal acquisition and wireless data transfer with the same coil element. Proof-of-concept simulations of a form-fitting soccer-ball geometry 16-channel iRFW coil head array show a high and uniform SNR in the neonatal head and WIFI 6 antenna gain patterns that radiate power outside the bore using a 2x1 multiple-input multiple-output WIFI 6 scheme for the high data rate wireless transmission of MRI data.

  PublisherDOI

• A Flexible iPRES AIR Coil Array for MRI and Localized B0 Shimming

  Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition · 2024-08-14

  article

  Susceptibility-induced B0 inhomogeneities can cause artifacts that severely degrade the image quality in many applications. Integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) coil arrays can perform MRI and localized B0 shimming with a single coil array, but are so far rigid, which limits their SNR and shimming performance. Here, we develop a flexible iPRES coil array that can conform to the subject’s anatomy and substantially improve the SNR and reduce the B0 inhomogeneities and geometric distortions in diffusion-weighted imaging of the knee compared to a rigid iPRES coil array, which will be valuable for many anatomical regions and applications.

  PublisherDOI

• Wireless Power Harvesting of the B1 Field During MR Image Acquisition for Pulse Charging of MR-Compatible Batteries

  Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition · 2023-08-03

  articleSenior author

  A 4-channel power harvesting coil array was developed to allow the energy emitted from RF transmit pulses within the scanner bore during imaging to be converted into DC voltage pulses for recharging MR-compatible batteries, regardless of the scan parameters or imaging pulse sequence. Proof-of-concept experiments in a phantom show that this power harvesting coil array was able to provide energy to a battery during GRE image acquisition for various flip angles and additionally during GRE-EPI, DTI, and MPRAGE image acquisitions.

  PublisherDOI

• Flexible <scp>multi‐purpose</scp> integrated <scp>RF</scp>/shim coil array for <scp>MRI</scp> and localized <scp><i>B</i>₀</scp> shimming

  Magnetic Resonance in Medicine · 2023-10-17 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Purpose To develop a flexible, lightweight, and multi‐purpose integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) coil array that can conform to the subject's anatomy and perform MR imaging and localized B 0 shimming in different anatomical regions with a high SNR, shimming performance, ease of positioning, and subject comfort. Methods A four‐channel flexible iPRES coil array was constructed by enabling RF and direct currents to flow on the same flexible coil elements for imaging and shimming, respectively. Shimming experiments were performed with the coil array wrapped around the knee or neck of healthy subjects to demonstrate its high shimming performance and versatility. Additionally, its SNR and shimming performance in the knee were compared to those obtained with the coil array wrapped around a larger rigid tube designed to fit most knee sizes. Results Shimming with the coil array wrapped around the knee or neck resulted in an average reduction in B 0 RMSE of 50.1% and 40.5% relative to first‐order and second‐order spherical harmonic shimming, respectively, and substantially reduced distortions in DWI images. In contrast, shimming the knee with the coil array wrapped around the rigid tube only provided a 29.6% reduction in B 0 RMSE, whereas the SNR was reduced by 58.7%. Conclusion The flexible iPRES coil array can conform to different anatomical regions and perform imaging and localized B 0 shimming with a higher SNR, shimming performance, ease of positioning, and comfort compared to a rigid iPRES coil array, which should be valuable for many applications throughout the human body.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Allen W. Song

  16 shared

• Trong‐Kha Truong

  16 shared

• Fraser Robb

  11 shared

• Olivia Dickinson

  5 shared

• Devon Overson

  5 shared

• Devin Willey

  4 shared

• Jonathan Cuthbertson

  3 shared

• Bruno Madore

  Brigham and Women's Hospital

  2 shared