2020 Serhat Ozyar Young Scientist Award: Koray Ertan

One of our former PhD student Koray Ertan, has received 2020 Serhat Ozyar Young Scientist Award.

”Design of Z-Gradient Array and Applications in Magnetic Resonance Imaging”

Koray Ertan completed his continuing doctoral thesis on “Design of Z-Gradient Array and Applications in Magnetic Resonance Imaging” in 2019 under the thesis advisory of Prof Dr Ergin Atalar in Bilkent University Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department.

In Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), it is important to reduce the warming caused by the radio frequency (RF) energy applied to the patient. Heating problem due to RF area is also an important safety problem in patients with pacemakers and similar implants and in interventional applications using MRI. The time (exposure time) that the patient stays in the device during imaging should be shortened. It has been observed that with the innovative hardware, software and techniques developed within the scope of Dr. Ertan’s thesis, the radio frequency energy applied to the patients during the shooting is reduced and the shooting time can be shortened. In addition, thanks to the proposed z-gradient array, gradient areas more compatible with nerve stimulation limits can be created, and their performance is increased by creating gradient areas only in the target organ or region. Dr. Ertan has designed unique windings to create regional gradient areas, manufactured prototypes, tested them with experimental studies and completed performance analyzes.

Within the scope of the thesis, 3 articles were published in leading scientific journals in the field, 13 international and 3 national papers were presented. He is the first author in all peer-reviewed journal publications, eight international papers and two national papers. There are a total of 35 citations according to Google Scholar. In addition, five international patent applications were filed within the scope of the thesis, three from the USA and two for PCT.