title: Fast-kz three-dimensional tailored radiofrequency pulse for reduced B1 inhomogeneity.
abstract: This article presents a small-flip-angle, three-dimensional tailored RF pulse that excites thin slices with an adjustable quadratic in-plane spatial variation. The quadratic spatial variation helps to compensate for the loss in image uniformity using a volume coil at 3 T due to the wavelike properties of the RF field. The pulse is based on a novel "fast-kz" design that uses a series of slice-select subpulses along kz and phase encoding "blips" along kx-ky. The method is demonstrated by acquiring a series of 5-mm-thick T2-weighted images of the human brain at 3 T using pulses 4.8 ms in length with a 45 degrees flip angle.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiangmai University, Chiangmai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Suwit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saekho
authors.forename: Chun-yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Douglas C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Noll
authors.forename: Fernando E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Boada
authors.forename: V Andrew
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Stenger
mesh_terms: D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011846:Radio Waves