Gradient-induced peripheral nerve stimulation remains a major performance limitation in MRI. Imaging sequences are limited to experimentally-determined thresholds that reduce the likelihood of uncomfortable stimulation in patients, typically using long bipolar trapezoid trains or sinusoidal waveforms. However, common short waveforms found in pulse sequences such as spoilers, crushers, and diffusion pulses could be optimized for higher thresholds. 20 subjects were exposed to representative waveforms for each of these pulse sequences and resulting thresholds indicate that gradient performance increases of between 20 and 40% may be possible.
This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.