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Title: Design of calibration-free RF pulses for T 2$$ {}_2 $$ -weighted single-slab 3D turbo-spin-echo sequences at 7T utilizing parallel transmission. Author: Lowen D, Pracht ED, Gras V, Massire A, Mauconduit F, Stoecker T, Boulant N. Journal: Magn Reson Med; 2024 Nov; 92(5):2037-2050. PubMed ID: 39054786. Abstract: PURPOSE: T 2$$ {}_2 $$ -weighted turbo-spin-echo (TSE) sequences are a fundamental technique in brain imaging but suffer from field inhomogeneities at ultra-high fields. Several methods have been proposed to mitigate the problem, but were limited so far to nonselective three-dimensional (3D) measurements, making short acquisitions difficult to achieve when targeting very high resolution images, or needed additional calibration procedures, thus complicating their application. METHODS: Slab-selective excitation pulses were designed for flexible placement utilizing the concept of k T$$ {}_T $$ -spokes. Phase-coherent refocusing universal pulses were subsequently optimized with the Gradient Ascent Pulse Engineering algorithm and tested in vivo for improved signal homogeneity. RESULTS: Implemented within a 3D variable flip angle TSE sequence, these pulses led to a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement ranging from 10% to 30% compared to a two-dimensional (2D) T2w TSE sequence employing B1+$$ {\mathrm{B}}_1^{+} $$ -shimmed pulses. B1+$$ {\mathrm{B}}_1^{+} $$ field inhomogeneities could be mitigated and artifacts from B0$$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ deviations reduced. The concept of universal pulses was successfully applied. CONCLUSION: We present a pulse design method which provides a set of calibration-free universal pulses (UPs) for slab-selective excitation and phase-coherent refocusing in slab-selective TSE sequences.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]