Application of Direct Signal Control with Variable Excitation and Refocusing for T2-w TSE Musculoskeletal Imaging at 7 Tesla

First experiences with direct signal control with variable excitation and refocusing (DiSCoVER) for T2-weighted TSE imaging in 7 Tesla musculoskeletal (MSK) applications of hip, shoulder, and ankle are presented. Images were compared to static RF shimming aiming at a homogeneous excitation by using the MR system’s framework as well as optimizing for a B1+-efficient shim in an offline calculation. DiSCoVER yielded satisfying results within the ROI defined for signal optimization but showed more pronounced signal dropouts outside the ROI compared to static RF shimming. Workflow improvements were particularly noted for DiSCoVER as it calculates pTx scale factors under SAR constraints.