A robust multi-shot scan strategy for high-resolution diffusion weighted MRI enabled by multiplexed...

Area of Science:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Neuroimaging
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) is standard for diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) to reduce motion artifacts.
• However, single-shot EPI has limited spatial resolution, even with parallel imaging.
• Multi-shot strategies offer higher resolution but suffer from motion-induced phase errors, especially with diffusion gradients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel multi-shot DWI technique for high-resolution brain imaging.
• To address and correct nonlinear shot-to-shot phase variations inherent in multi-shot acquisitions.
• To eliminate the need for navigator echoes, improving imaging throughput.

Main Methods:

• Development of a multiplexed sensitivity-encoding (MUSE) technique for multi-shot DWI.
• Inherent correction of nonlinear shot-to-shot phase variations without navigator echoes.
• Experimental validation in healthy adult volunteers using 3 Tesla MRI systems.

Main Results:

• The MUSE technique reliably corrects shot-to-shot phase variations in multi-shot DWI.
• Experimental results confirm the performance of MUSE on 3T MRI systems.
• The technique enables high-resolution brain structure and connectivity mapping.

Conclusions:

• MUSE is a robust and novel multi-shot DWI technique.
• It overcomes limitations of single-shot EPI and traditional multi-shot methods.
• MUSE is valuable for advanced neuroscience studies requiring high spatial resolution.