New FOCI pulses with reduced radiofrequency power requirements

To propose new frequency offset corrected inversion (FOCI) pulses with significantly reduced radiofrequency (RF) power deposition for spin echo imaging by incorporating the variable-rate selective excitation (VERSE) schemes into the pulse design.

Two schemes are proposed to design the new FOCI pulses with dramatically reduced peak RF power requirements. In scheme A, the time-dilation function is derived from a predefined adiabaticity factor modulation function. In scheme B, the time-dilation function is predefined, while the adiabaticity factor is conserved.

The new FOCI pulses are shown to be able to operate at reduced specific absorption rate (SAR), specifically at the same peak RF power as that of a five- or seven-lobe sinc inversion pulse of the same duration. Using the new FOCI pulse, significant gain in sensitivity was observed in in vivo spin-echo echo-planar imaging, which was attributed to the improved refocusing slice profile.

The new FOCI pulses can replace the 180 degrees five- or seven-lobe sinc pulses in spin-echo imaging with the same peak RF power requirement and significantly improved slice profile.