B1+ inhomogeneity mitigation in slice-selective excitation at 7T with a single-channel RF coil augmented by ΔB0 shim array fields

We explored the utility of shim array fields in the mitigation of in-plane B1+ inhomogeneity for a slice-selective excitation at 7T and achieved better magnitude of transverse magnetization compared with birdcage transmit using conventional single-channel RF excitation. Approximately 2:1 range of B1+ was mitigated, at the cost of increased peak RF power, shim array current demands up to 20 A, and minor out-of-slice sidelobes.