Reducing peripheral nerve stimulation in a subject during a magnetic resonance imaging scan

A method for reducing peripheral nerve stimulation in a subject during a magnetic resonance imaging scan of the subject using a magnetic resonance system having three physical gradient axes, the method comprising:

• a) planning the magnetic resonance imaging scan by selecting an imaging protocol and positioning a field-of-view of the scan obliquely through the subject, such that at least two logical gradient axes of the scan are not parallel to any of the physical gradient axes;
• (b) determining an estimate of an overall peripheral nerve stimulation for the planned magnetic resonance imaging scan based on:
• at least one duration, at least one waveform, and a number of applied gradient pulses required for all or part of the planned magnetic resonance imaging scan;
• characteristic constants of the three physical gradient axes that are measures for contributions of the three physical gradient axes to the overall peripheral nerve stimulation, respectively;
• or
• the at least one duration, the at least one waveform, the number of applied gradient pulses, and the characteristic constants;
• (c) inverting a gradient polarity of at least one logical gradient axis of the scan that is not parallel to any of the physical gradient axes and determining an estimate of the overall peripheral nerve stimulation for the planned magnetic resonance imaging scan with the inverted polarity;
• (d) selecting the gradient polarity of the at least one logical gradient axis which has a lowest overall peripheral nerve stimulation;
• and
• (e) performing the planned magnetic resonance imaging scan on the subject with the selected gradient polarity.