The eddy current distortion in the multiband diffusion images: diagnosis and correction

TL;DR

This paper investigates the eddy current-induced slice distortion artifacts in multiband diffusion images, identifying their cause and proposing hardware tuning and correction algorithms for improved image quality.

Contribution

It identifies the source of eddy current artifacts in multiband diffusion imaging and introduces correction methods including hardware tuning and gradient-based algorithms.

Findings

Eddy currents cause slice distortion artifacts in multiband diffusion images.

Correction can be achieved through hardware tuning or gradient-based algorithms.

The proposed methods improve image fidelity by reducing artifacts.

Abstract

The diffusion weighted images acquired with the multiband sequence or the Lifespan protocols shows a type of slice distortion artifact. We find that this artifact is caused by the eddy currents, which can be induced by the diffusion gradient associated with either current DW image or the previous DW images. The artifact can be corrected by further tuning the compensation circuit in the MR hardware, or by a correction algorithm which includes the diffusion gradients from the current and previous DW images.