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

A method of providing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:

• providing a computing system configured to select at least one gradient coil setting based on at least one of a position, a shape, a size, and a material of a dielectric assembly disposed in relation to a skin surface of a subject, the subject disposed in relation to a magnetic field of the MRI system, the at least one gradient coil setting defining at least one magnetic field gradient to be generated by a gradient coil in the MRI system, the at least one gradient coil setting comprising at least one of a gradient amplitude and a gradient slew rate, the gradient amplitude greater than a threshold gradient amplitude at which peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is likely otherwise induced in the subject absent the dielectric assembly, and the gradient slew rate greater than a threshold gradient slew rate at which PNS is likely otherwise induced in the subject absent the dielectric assembly, thereby providing at least one selected gradient coil setting;
• providing an imaging system configured to acquire data from the subject to generate at least one magnetic field gradient defined by the at least one selected gradient coil setting, thereby providing acquired data,
• providing the computing system further comprising configuring the computing system to reconstruct an image from the acquired data;
• and
• using the computer system, selecting at least one gradient coil setting based on at least one of a position, a shape, a size, and a material of a dielectric assembly disposed in relation to a skin surface of a subject, the subject disposed in relation to a magnetic field of the MRI system, the at least one gradient coil setting defining at least one magnetic field gradient to be generated by a gradient coil in the MRI system, the at least one gradient coil setting comprising at least one of a gradient amplitude and a gradient slew rate, the gradient amplitude greater than a threshold gradient amplitude at which peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is likely otherwise induced in the subject absent the dielectric assembly, and the gradient slew rate greater than a threshold gradient slew rate at which PNS is likely otherwise induced in the subject absent the dielectric assembly, thereby providing at least one selected gradient coil setting.

A method of imaging by way of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a computer system, comprising:

• providing the MRI system, providing the MRI system comprising:
• providing a computing system configured to select at least one gradient coil setting based on at least one of a position, a shape, a size, and a material of a dielectric assembly disposed in relation to a skin surface of a subject, the subject disposed in relation to a magnetic field of the MRI system, the at least one gradient coil setting defining at least one magnetic field gradient to be generated by a gradient coil in the MRI system, the at least one gradient coil setting comprising at least one of a gradient amplitude and a gradient slew rate, the gradient amplitude greater than a threshold gradient amplitude at which peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is likely otherwise induced in the subject absent the dielectric assembly, and the gradient slew rate greater than a threshold gradient slew rate at which PNS is likely otherwise induced in the subject absent the dielectric assembly, thereby providing at least one selected gradient coil setting;
• and
• providing an imaging system configured to acquire data from the subject to generate at least one magnetic field gradient defined by the at least one selected gradient coil setting, thereby providing acquired data,
• providing the computing system further comprising configuring the computing system to reconstruct an image from the acquired data;
• using the computer system, selecting at least one gradient coil setting based on at least one of a position, a shape, a size, and a material of a dielectric assembly disposed in relation to a skin surface of a subject, the subject disposed in relation to a magnetic field of the MRI system, the at least one gradient coil setting defining at least one magnetic field gradient to be generated by a gradient coil in the MRI system, the at least one gradient coil setting comprising at least one of a gradient amplitude and a gradient slew rate, the gradient amplitude greater than a threshold gradient amplitude at which peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is likely otherwise induced in the subject absent the dielectric assembly, and the gradient slew rate greater than a threshold gradient slew rate at which PNS is likely otherwise induced in the subject absent the dielectric assembly, thereby providing at least one selected gradient coil setting;
• using the MRI system, acquiring data from the subject to generate at least one magnetic field gradient defined by the at least one selected gradient coil setting, thereby providing acquired data;
• and
• using the computer system, reconstructing an image from the acquired data.