Kenneth Craig Goodrich1, William Bradfield
Handler2, Seong-Eun Kim1, John Rock Hadley1,
Ulrich A. Rassner3, Blaine A. Chronik2, Dennis L.
Parker1
1UCAIR, University of Utah,
Salt Lake City, UT, United States; 2Physics and Astronomy,
University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; 3Radiology,
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
The purpose of this study was to test PNS levels associated with a novel gradient system that allows an insert gradient to be used simultaneously with whole-body gradient system. 5 volunteers underwent PNS testing using whole body gradients and a head/neck insert. Three gradient configurations were measured; body gradients, insert gradients, both systems operating synchronously. The pulse sequence consisted of 64, 1 msec trapezoid pulses with 400 microsecond slew time. The PNS threshold for composite gradients was higher than for the body gradients only. Composite gradients may allow increased gradient performance while decreasing PNS relative to whole body gradients alone.