Dynamic shim approach to correct eddy-currents and concomitant fields in magnetic resonance imaging using local shim coil

A method for magnetic resonance imaging comprising:

• a) performing a pre-scan calibration comprising a diffusion acquisition and a non-diffusion acquisition, wherein the pre-scan calibration uses a one-time MRI spin-echo pulse sequence to measure phase differences between the diffusion acquisition and the non-diffusion acquisition, wherein the measured phase differences correspond to an estimation of eddy-current-induced phase in a diffusion-prepared sequence;
• b) performing an imaging scan comprising an imaging acquisition, wherein the imaging scan uses arbitrary waveform shim currents applied to a shim array during the imaging acquisition, wherein the shim currents are determined from the measured phase differences from the pre-scan to create phase maps having phase polarity opposite to the measured phase differences in order to compensate eddy-current or system-imperfection-induced phase differences;
• wherein the imaging scan and pre-scan calibration are performed using an MRI apparatus with a channel integrated receiver and the shim array.