Saturated double-angle method for rapid B1+ mapping

For in vivo magnetic resonance imaging at high field (≥3 T) it is essential to consider the homogeneity of the active B1 field (B1+), particularly if surface coils are used for RF transmission. A new method is presented for highly rapid B1+ magnitude mapping. It combines the double angle method with a B1-insensitive magnetization-reset sequence such that the choice of repetition time (TR) is independent of T1 and with a multislice segmented (spiral) acquisition to achieve volumetric coverage with adequate spatial resolution in a few seconds. Phantom experiments confirmed the accuracy of this technique even when TR ≪ T1, with the side effect being lowered SNR. The speed of this method enabled B1+ mapping in the chest and abdomen within a single breath-hold. In human cardiac imaging, the method enabled whole-heart coverage within a single 16-s breath-hold. Results from phantoms and healthy volunteers at 1.5 T and 3 T are presented. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.