Experimental Assessment of the Effects of Subject Motion on Local SAR and pTx Pulse Performance at 7T

Previous simulation studies of motion in parallel transmission (pTx) have identified large increases in specific absorption rate (SAR) and pulse performance error. This abstract extends this by evaluating the effects of motion on RF shimming and dynamic pTx in vivo at 7T. The T1w image of a healthy volunteer was segmented to create a body model for electromagnetic simulation in a custom pTx coil. The model was simulated at six head positions matched to experimental measurements. Motion had a detrimental effect on pTx pulse performance and also caused local SAR changes, though not as severe as seen previously in simulation.