Multi-Slice 2D pTx Readout-Segmented Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Using Slice-by-Slice B1+ Shimming

For ultra-high field, parallel transmit (pTx) plays a key role in the mitigation of B₁⁺ field inhomogeneity. Slice-selective 2D imaging is particularly challenging, where common solutions such as spokes haven’t been robustly implemented in standard multi-slice acquisitions. In this abstract we use slice-by-slice shimming to combat B₁⁺ homogeneity in a multi-slice readout-segmented diffusion-weighted sequence with preliminary results shown in a human subject. Slice-by-slice shimming is compared to single-transmit and volumetric-shimming, with promising improvements in image quality.