Compensation of Concomitant Field Effects in Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Tomography

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This invention relates to a method and device for diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that compensates for unwanted effects (concomitant field effects) caused by the inherent side effects of using magnetic field gradients in MRI. The technique employs specially designed oscillating gradient pulses added to the standard diffusion-weighted MRI sequences. These additional gradient pulses precisely counteract the unwanted phase shifts, blurring, and signal loss caused by concomitant fields, without significantly affecting image quality or increasing scan time.

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• Clinical MRI diagnostics where high-quality diffusion-weighted images are required, such as in neuroimaging, oncology, and musculoskeletal imaging.
• Advanced research MRI studies in neuroscience and material sciences requiring precise diffusion measurements.
• Diffusion MRI methods like double diffusion encoding and diffusion pore imaging, which are sensitive to concomitant field artifacts.
• Development of next-generation MRI machines with built-in concomitant field compensation for improved imaging performance.
• Specialty MRI protocols for organs or structures where strong or rapidly switching gradients are used, such as in microstructure imaging.

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• Reduces image artifacts such as phase shifts, blurring, and signal loss that can compromise MRI image quality.
• Enables more accurate and reliable diffusion measurements, especially important for advanced imaging techniques.
• Maintains high signal quality and contrast in diffusion-weighted MRI without increasing total scan time.
• Can be integrated into existing and new MRI hardware systems using gradient control software and hardware modifications.
• Improves diagnostic confidence by providing clearer, more accurate images, which is critical in clinical decision-making.
• Particularly useful for high-gradient or rapid sequence MRI applications, expanding the range and utility of diffusion imaging.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for capturing a sample structure. The method comprises generating a magnetic field in order to align magnetic dipoles along a first spatial direction, exciting a precession movement of the magnetic dipoles by means of a first alternating electromagnetic field at a time t = 0, inverting the magnetic dipoles by means of a second alternating electromagnetic field at a time t = TE/2 in order to cause a spin echo at a time t = TE, generating magnetic field gradient pulses (20, 20a, 20b, 22) which cause magnetic field gradients along a second spatial direction, according to a gradient time profile G(t) for which integral[G(t) dt] = 0, wherein the gradient time profile G(t): has a first positive gradient pulse (20, 20a) and a first negative gradient pulse (20) between 0 and TE/2 for diffusion weighting and has a plurality of second positive gradient pulses (22) and a plurality of second negative gradient pulses (22) between TE/2 and TE for concomitant field effect compensation; or has a first positive gradient pulse (20, 20b) and a first negative gradient pulse (20, 20a) between TE/2 and TE for diffusion weighting and has a plurality of second positive gradient pulses (22) and a plurality of second negative gradient pulses (22) between 0 and TE/2 for concomitant field effect compensation.