Repeatability of FDTD simulations for determining local SAR and B1+ distributions for UHF abdominal imaging.

This study assessed the repeatability of FDTD simulations used to calculate local specific absorption rate (SAR) and B1⁺ distributions for abdominal imaging on a 7T (UHF) parallel transmit (pTx) system when subjected to typical small displacements of the an eight channel transmit dipole body array experienced when repositioning subjects. Simulations were repeated on two subject-based models and the maximum local 10g averaged SAR (SAR_10g,av), B1⁺ distributions and scattering matrices (S-matrices) were compared to assess variation. The consequences that this has for MR safety, RF shimming and coil loading is discussed.