Abstract #0014

A 3-Axis Phase Gradient Array for RF Encoded MRI Using the TRASE Method

Jonathan C. Sharp¹, Qunli Deng¹, Scott B. King², Vyacheslav Volotovskyy², Boguslaw Tomanek¹

¹National Research Council of Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; ²National Research Council of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

The first 3-axis encoded RF transmit array for TRASE (Transmit Array Spatial Encoding) B1 imaging is presented. TRASE is a novel MRI method in which the spatial encoding is achieved by repeated refocusing by 180 deg pulses, where all B1 transmit fields are a phase gradient. The transmit array is capable of producing any one of 6 phase gradient fields (+X, -X, +Y, -Y, +Z, -Z). Imaging results in all three orthogonal planes are presented. Some possible applications of this new form of encoding include low-cost MRI (due to the elimination of the B0 gradient system) and microscopy.