Characterization and correction of diffusion gradient-induced eddy currents in second-order motion-compensated echo-planar and spiral cardiac DTI.

Purpose: Very high gradient amplitudes played out over extended time intervals as required for second-order motion-compensated cardiac DTI may violate the assumption of a linear time-invariant gradient system model. The aim of this work was to characterize diffusion gradient-related system nonlinearity and propose a correction approach for echo-planar and spiral spin-echo motion-compensated cardiac DTI.

Methods: Diffusion gradient-induced eddy currents of 9 diffusion directions were characterized at b values of 150 s/mm and 450 s/mm for a 1.