Feasibility of strong diffusion encoding and fast readout using a plug-and-play head gradient insert at 7 T.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Diffusion weighting is achieved by the application of external field gradients typically for tens of milliseconds, during which the signal also substantially decays due to inherent T₂ relaxation. Employing strong gradients will shorten the echo time (TE) and increase the signal-to-noise ratio. This study demonstrates a proof-of-principle of using an ultrastrong head gradient insert for diffusion MRI at 7 T.

Methods

A lightweight (45 kg) single-axis gradient coil operating in the z-direction was interfaced with a 7 T system and operated as an additional fourth-gradient axis to the whole-body gradient setup. Several diffusion MRI experiments were conducted to compare acquisitions taken with a gradient insert operating at full capacity (200 mT/m and 1300 T/m/

SUBMITTER: Arends GC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12393193 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature