Jesse Bellec1,
Chen-Yi Liu1, Scott B. King2, Christopher Paul
Bidinosti1,3
1Physics & Astronomy,
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; 2MR
Technology, NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; 3Physics,
University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Transmit array spatial encoding (TRASE) [1] is a novel gradient-free imaging technique relying on Tx RF phase gradients to spatially encode the transverse magnetization. Ideal phase gradients have a strong-uniform magnitude and strong-linear phase gradient over a large volume. To optimize TRASE MRI, a target field approach has been used to determine current distributions that produce linear phase gradients and uniform magnitude, but over limited volumes. A horizontal-B0 z-phase gradient design resembles initial spiral birdcage designs, suggesting that the approach is suitable for TRASE optimization.