Arbitrary Shape Excitation Using a 2D SPOKE Pulse at 7T

Christopher Joseph Wargo¹, Marcin Jankiewicz¹, Huairen Zeng¹, John C. Gore¹

Arbitrarily shaped volume excitation has a variety of potential MRI applications. By restricting the FOX, the information obtained is isolated to particular anatomical or functional regions. Faster acquisitions can also be enabled for high resolutions due to fewer collected points. To accomplish this, multi-pulse composites can be applied at various excitation k-space points, with simulations used to define RF and gradient waveforms for a specific desired excitation pattern. B1 inhomogeneity effects, prevalent at ultra-high field strengths such as 7T, can also be accounted for. Here we demonstrate the performance of a SPOKE based arbitrary shape excitation at 7T in phantoms.