System and method to reduce eddy current artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging

A method for reducing eddy current artifacts of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a main magnet that generates a substantially uniform magnetic field to image a subject therein, the method comprising:

• accessing data encoding a gradient waveform that would otherwise be used on a gradient sub-system of the MRI system to generate a gradient that corresponds to perturbations to the substantially uniform magnetic field;
• accessing data encoding one or more temporal model functions indicative of eddy current parameters during a ramp-up phase of the gradient;
• pre-emphasizing the gradient waveform base on, at least in part, the eddy current parameters;
• and
• driving the gradient sub-system using the pre-emphasized gradient waveform such that distortions to the gradient caused by eddy currents during the ramp-up phase are substantially removed.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MM) system, comprising:

• a housing having a bore in which a subject to be imaged is placed;
• a main magnet accommodated by said housing and configured to generate a substantially uniform magnetic field within the bore;
• a group of shimming coils placed around said housing and configured to increase a homogeneity of the substantially uniform magnetic field;
• pulse generating coils to generate and apply radio frequency (RF) pulses in sequence to scan the subject;
• a gradient sub-system comprising gradient coils to provide perturbations to the substantially uniform magnetic field;
• a control unit coupled to the main magnet and configured to:
• energize a gradient sub-system of the MRI system such that a gradient corresponding to perturbations to the substantially uniform magnetic field are generated, the gradient having a temporal strength that includes a ramp-up phase;
• and
• during the ramp-up phase:
• measure the temporal strength of the gradient during the ramp-up phase, and
• fit the measured temporal strength against one or more temporal model functions to generate a corrected gradient in which distortions caused by eddy currents during the ramp-up phase are substantially removed.