Parallel Spatially Selective Excitation using Nonlinear Non-Bijective PatLoc Encoding Fields: Experimental Realization & First Results

Johannes Thomas Schneider^1,2, Martin Haas², Stphanie Ohrel¹, Heinrich Lehr¹, Wolfgang Ruhm¹, Hans Post¹, Jrgen Hennig², Peter Ullmann¹

The PatLoc technique uses non-linear, non-bijective magnetic fields in combination with RF receive sensitivity encoding for spatial encoding in MR image acquisition. Recently, a theoretical study based on simulations has demonstrated that the PatLoc benefits, such as locally increased spatial resolution, faster gradient switching and reduced peripheral nerve stimulation, can also be exploited for Parallel Spatially Selective Excitation (PEX). This work presents the first successful experimental realization of PEX based on PatLoc encoding fields and demonstrates that the ambiguities introduced into the excitation process by the non-bijectivity of these encoding fields can effectively be resolved by using parallel transmission techniques.