Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods
for providing tailored RF pulse trains, based on estimated B0 and B1
profiles, for uniform saturation for MRI techniques. The tailored pulse
trains are optimized to minimize residual longitudinal magnetization in
target tissue. The B0 and B1 profiles can be measured a priori over a
desired region of a patient, e.g., the heart, and can overcome or
mitigate SAR and B1 inhomogeneity constraints. In exemplary embodiments,
the tailored pulse trains can include hard pulses with unequal weighting.
In other embodiments, the tailored pulse trains can include BIR-4 pulse
trains that are optimized to minimize residual longitudinal magnetization
in target tissue. The tailored pulse train designs can improve the
immunity to B1 variation while maintaining low RF power. MRI systems,
methods, and controllers for providing tailored pulse trains are
described.