System and method for reducing peripheral nerve stimulation at higher gradient amplitudes and faster gradient slew rates in magnetic resonance imaging

A method for reducing peripheral nerve stimulation in a subject during an imaging scan with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the steps of the method comprising:

• (a) arranging a dielectric assembly proximate an anatomical region of the subject in which peripheral nerve stimulation is to be reduced;
• (b) selecting with a computer system, gradient coil settings that define magnetic field gradients to be generated by a gradient coil in the MRI system, wherein the gradient coil settings include at least one of gradient amplitudes or gradient slew rates above a threshold at which peripheral nerve stimulation is likely to be induced in the anatomical region of the subject when the dielectric assembly is not arranged proximate the anatomical region;
• (c) acquiring data from the subject with the MRI system operating to generate magnetic field gradients defined by the selected gradient coil settings, wherein peripheral nerve stimulation is mitigated in the anatomical region by the dielectric assembly;
• and
• (d) reconstructing an image that depicts the subject from the acquired data.