Patent ID: 8169219
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A method, of reducing a specific absorption rate (SAR) over a field of view of an imaged object during magnetic imaging (MRI), comprising: emitting a first radiofrequency (RF) pulse into an object with an RF excitation coil element that has a first sensitivity profile comprising (a) a substantially uniform amplitude, and (b) a first phase that is substantially constant in a direction across an imaging volume of the object; emitting a second RF pulse into the object with a second RF excitation coil element that has a second sensitivity profile comprising (a) a substantially uniform amplitude, and (b) a second phase that varies substantially linearly, with a first nonzero integer multiple of 2π phase variation, in the direction across the imaging volume; and emitting a third RF pulse into the object with a third RF excitation coil element that has a third sensitivity profile comprising (a) a substantially uniform amplitude and (b) a third phase that varies substantially linearly, with a second nonzero integer multiple of −2π phase variation, in the direction across the imaging volume.