Comparative Performance Analysis of an Open Source Motion-Compensated Cardiac Diffusion Sequence Across Different MRI...

To validate the performance of an open-source cardiac diffusion sequence framework and to investigate hardware-based performance differences.

Three second order motion compensated sequence files were compiled using Pulseq and applied across different MRI systems to image five volunteers. DTI and SNR analysis was performed to investigate protocol efficacy.

The sequences performed well at the task of imaging short axis views of the myocardium and producing data suitable for diffusion tensor imaging analysis. Significant differences in sequence performance across different systems and within the same system were revealed. Relative SNR utilizing the strongest available gradient system yielded up to 80% more SNR than the weakest tested system. Relative SNR obtained from the same sequence at different scanners differed by up to 42%, suggesting hardware impacts that warrant further investigation.

The presented sequence framework allows for an easy starting point into cardiac diffusion tensor imaging and opens the door to further analysis of hardware impacts on performance.