Novel SAR reduction methods for magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

In this thesis, novel methods are presented, which can be used to reduce the heating of the human body due to radiofrequency fields in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The proposed methods depend on the modification of the electric field distribution for reducing the specific absorption rate (SAR). These methods can be used to reduce the local SAR in the vicinity of metallic devices and the whole-volume average SAR, as shown by electromagnetic field simulations and phantom, animal and patient experiments. These results can improve the safety of MRI scans performed on patients with metallic implants and MRI-guided interventional procedures. Additionally, by reducing the whole body average SAR, safer and faster MRI scans can be performed.