Parallel transmission for 7T MRI of the spinal cord is a promising area of research, as high specific absorption rate and coil inefficiency in some levels may limit certain applications. In the absence of virtual observation points (VOP) provided by the coil manufacturer, preliminary testing and first in vivo applications on a healthy volunteer were done in a conservative SAR-restricted, showing potential in regions that suffered from signal drops with the default shim parameters. The workflow to ensure radiofrequency safety with virtual observation points, based on simulations of the specific absorption rate and their validation, is also described.
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