Calculation of a b0 image multiple diffusion weighted mr images

A method of medical imaging, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving multiple diffusion weighted images of a subject, wherein the multiple diffusion weighted images each have an assigned b-value representing the diffusion weighting strength, wherein the multiple diffusion weighted images each have an assigned diffusion weighting direction, wherein for a region of interest there is at least one corresponding voxel in each of the multiple diffusion weighted images;
• constructing a set of equations for each of the at least one corresponding voxel, wherein the set of equations is constructed from an apparent diffusion equation for the assigned diffusion weighting direction of each of the multiple diffusion weighted images;
• solving the set of equations for each voxel for a b0 value representing zero diffusion weighting as an optimization;
• and
• constructing a b0 image using the b0 value for each voxel, where the b0 value corresponds to image intensity at no diffusion weighting.

A computer program product comprising machine executable instructions for execution by a processor controlling a medical imaging system, wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor to:

• receive multiple diffusion weighted images of a subject, wherein the multiple diffusion weighted images each have an assigned b-value representing the diffusion weighting strength, wherein the multiple diffusion weighted images each have an assigned diffusion weighting direction, wherein for a region of interest there is at least one corresponding voxel in each of the multiple diffusion weighted images;
• construct a set of equations for each of the at least one corresponding voxel, wherein the set of equations is constructed from an apparent diffusion equation for the assigned diffusion weighting direction of each of the multiple diffusion weighted images;
• solve the set of equations for each voxel for abo value representing zero diffusion weighting as an optimization;
• and
• construct a b0 image using the b0 value for each voxel, where the b0 value corresponds to image intensity at no diffusion weighting.