System and method for prospective correction of high order eddy-current-induced distortion in diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging

A method for correcting high order eddy-current-induced distortions in diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging (DW-EPI) comprising:

• acquiring calibration data from a calibration scan, the calibration data configured to characterize high order eddy currents of an imaging system;
• processing the calibration data to generate a plurality of basis coefficients and a plurality of time constants;
• calculating a plurality of basis correction coefficients based on the plurality of basis coefficients and based on the plurality of time constants;
• and
• applying a DW-EPI pulse sequence to acquire MR data from an imaging subject;
• applying high order eddy current generated magnetic field error correction during application of the DW-EPI pulse sequence to reduce high order eddy-current-induced distortion in the acquired MR data;
• and
• reconstructing an image based on the acquired MR data.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to:

• acquire calibration data from a calibration scan configured to characterize high order eddy current generated magnetic field error of an imaging system;
• process the calibration data;
• generate a plurality of basis coefficients and a plurality of time constants based on the processed calibration data;
• calculate a plurality of basis correction coefficients based on the plurality of basis coefficients, the plurality of time constants, and gradient waveforms in a DW-EPI pulse sequence;
• apply the DW-EPI pulse sequence to acquire MR data from an imaging subject;
• apply high order eddy current generated magnetic field error correction during application of the DW-EPI pulse sequence;
• and
• reconstruct an image based on the acquired MR data.