A Fast Algorithm for Local-1gram-SAR Optimized Parallel-Transmit RF-Pulse Design

Alessandro Sbrizzi¹, Hans Hoogduin², Jan J. Lagendijk², Peter Luijten², Gerard Sleijpen³, Cornelis A. van den Berg²

In this paper we present a novel approach to the fast design of local SAR optimized multidimensional spatially selective RF pulses. It is based on the application of a multi-shift Conjugate Gradients (mCGLS) algorithm for computing RF pulses whose resulting local 1 gram SAR is more uniformly distributed, lowering the maximal value over the whole 3D spatial domain. The method was validated by simulations showing a reduction of 23% of the maximal SAR.