Why 24-48 Channel Flexible MR Coils is the future of Veterinary Radiology

A veterinary radiologist has to handle it all from Chihuahuas to Great Danes, from feline elbows to equine spines and almost always under anesthesia. With that kind of variability, your MR coil choice isn’t just technical; it’s the #1 lever for image quality, speed, and patient safety.

That’s why high-density 24 to 48-channel flexible MR coils are emerging as the new standard. They deliver higher SNR, faster exams, and the flexibility to reliably image a wide range of species and anatomies giving you the consistency and confidence every case demands.

What's the difference between a rigid and flexible coil

Rigid coils use fixed geometry that fits a narrow range of body types, often leaving air gaps

between the coil and the anatomy reducing SNR and uniformity. Flexible coils, by contrast, use high-density receive arrays with many small elements that can be positioned close to the body. This proximity boosts local SNR and supports higher parallel imaging factors with lower g-factor penalties translating to sharper images and shorter scans.

Why flexible MR coils matters in practice

Acceleration headroom you can use.  In abdominal and MSK imaging, flexible coils with 24–48 elements strike the optimal balance between acceleration and coverage that most veterinary sites need. ISMRM data show that high-density flexible coils consistently deliver higher SNR and better parallel acceleration than conventional rigid coils with the same channel count underscoring the performance advantage that comes from tight anatomical conformity.

Coverage without cable chaos. Rigid coil setups often mean multiple coils, multiple cables, and a cluttered scan room. A single high-channel flexible coil consolidates coverage into one lightweight design, minimizing cable sprawl and simplifying hookups. For core exams like neuro, spine, MSK, and abdomen, you get reliable coverage without the cable mess.

Designed to fit and perform

Even with identical channel counts, flexible arrays outperform rigid designs thanks to closer anatomical coupling and reduced signal drop-off. This improved fit directly translates to higher SNR and cleaner, more uniform images.

Ready for advanced reconstruction

Modern MRI vendors pair high-element flexible arrays with deep-learning reconstruction algorithms, compounding the gains in speed and image quality.

Flexibility matters even more in veterinary MRI

In human imaging, coil geometry is predictable adult torsos, pediatric heads, extremities. In

veterinary imaging, every patient is a different shape, size, and temperament. A rigid human torso coil can’t hug a Dachshund’s spine or wrap around a feline elbow. Flexible coils can. They adapt to curved, irregular, or compact anatomy, improving coupling and reducing signal loss from positioning challenges.

InkSpace Imaging’s Nuzzle™ flexible MR coil embodies this flexibility, offering 12–48 channel designs compatible with Siemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare, and Philips systems. Purpose-built for veterinary MRI, Nuzzle™ gives radiologists and technologists a coil that truly fits improving image quality, shortening scan setup time, and enhancing safety by reducing anesthesia minutes.

Reduced anesthesia equal better outcomes

Anesthesia is routine but never risk-free in small-animal MRI. Every minute under sedation carries physiological stress and potential complications not to mention added cost and resource time. Faster scans directly reduce that exposure.

Flexible, high-density coils help achieve that by improving SNR and acceleration efficiency, allowing radiologists to complete exams faster while maintaining diagnostic quality. When paired with AI-powered reconstruction techniques total acceleration can be improved by nearly 40%. InkSpace Imaging’s Nuzzle™ flexible MR coil applies these same physics advantages to veterinary workflows helping reduce anesthesia minutes, improve throughput, and enhance safety without compromise.

Coverage across species, sizes, and fields

Veterinary MRI spans a remarkable range from compact, clinic-based 1.5T scanners to 3.0T research systems, and even low-field or low-helium designs. Each modality presents its own geometry and signal challenges, made even more complex by the diversity of animal shapes and sizes.

Flexible MR coils created specifically for veterinary needs bridge that gap. By adapting to the patient rather than forcing the patient to fit the coil, they help standardize technique and image quality across this entire spectrum. Whether imaging a cat’s spine on a high-field scanner or a medium-breed dog’s abdomen on a smaller system, a high-density flexible coil preserves SNR, coverage, and diagnostic consistency.

What to look for when purchasing a 24-48 channel flexible MR coil

1. Element geometry and decoupling:  Dense tiling and effective decoupling sustain SNR and acceleration at bend. Ask for SNR maps and g-factor data.

2. Conformability and weight:  True wraparound designs reduce padding gymnastics, make positioning easier, and speed room turnover.

3. Scanner compatibility & coverage:  Ensure seamless integration with your 1.5T/3T scanner families, connector types, autoload/autodetect, and DL-recon compatibility.

4. Clinical Coverage:

    Validate that the coils focuses on your bread-and-butter caseload (brain/spine, elbow/shoulder, brachial plexus, abdomen). Reference veterinary coil portfolios and guidelines as a cross-check.

5. Technologist ergonomics:

   Look for flexible straps, pad sizes, anesthesia line clearance, and easy cleaning for repeatable, durable use.

6. Regulatory and service record:  Look for documented performance (white papers, abstracts) and support. Recent 24-channel approvals in human coils illustrate the maturing tech stack behind flexible arrays. 

Where 24-48 channel coils are in use

Flexible high-channel arrays are now mainstream in human MRI, delivering better anatomical fit, higher SNR, and faster parallel imaging. The same proven design principles translate directly to veterinary applications, improving image quality and workflow efficiency across species.

Clinical payoffs you’ll notice

Spine and neuro:  Cleaner cord/nerve root delineation at smaller FOVs with higher in-plane resolution.

MSK (elbow, shoulder, stifle, carpus):  Confident small-structure imaging without “coil-to-anatomy gap” penalties.

Abdomen and oncology:  Parallel imaging headroom for breath-holds (when applicable) or simply faster averages for SNR-hungry sequences.

Bottom line

If you’re running a modern veterinary MR service, a 24-48 channel flexible MR coil is no longer “nice to have.” It’s the most efficient way to buy back SNR, acceleration, and positioning reliability across diverse patients by converting directly into better images, fewer repeats, and fewer anesthesia minutes.  If you need a solution that meets you on 1.5T and 3.0T, InkSpace Imaging has you covered.

To discuss the future of veterinary MR coils and how they can improve your workflow reach out to use here for a demo.