An Easily Integrated Eight Channel Parallel Transmit System for Transmit SENSE Applications

Neal Anthony Hollingsworth¹, Katherine Lynn Moody², Jon-Fredrik Nielsen³, Douglas C. Noll³, Mary Preston McDougall^1,2, Steve M. Wright^1,2

Development of complex RF pulses has driven interest in parallel transmit techniques(e.g. Transmit SENSE). These have, in turn, driven the development of multichannel transmit systems. We have constructed an eight channel parallel transmit system that can be easily integrated with an existing MR system. Each channel has independent amplitude and phase control and uses an RF current source as the output stage. By using this in conjunction with a series resonated loop array coil for transmit we have obtained good inter element coil isolation. This has allowed for the synthesis of a uniform excitation pattern.