Concatenated Double Wave Vector Diffusion Weighting Experiments

Martin A. Koch¹, Jrgen Finsterbusch¹

Double wave vector diffusion weighting may help to assess pore size and shape in tissue. It employs two successive diffusion weighting periods with independent gradient direction. With a short delay between the periods, the signal difference between parallel and antiparallel gradient orientation for restricted diffusion depends on the mean pore size. It is often very small when whole body gradients are employed, hampering routine application. Recently, a "concatenated" experiment was proposed where the double diffusion weighting is applied multiple times. It should provide a larger antiparallel-parallel difference. The predicted increase is investigated experimentally in excised pig spinal cord.