Abstract #2985

Cowin G, Doddrell D, Wang D, McMahon K

A method for spatially mapping the gradient field nonlinearity within an imaging volume is described. In this method, the gradient coil tensor that provides a full description of the gradient field nonlinearity is derived indirectly from geometric distortion which is measured using a 3D phantom-based technique. The proposed method is demonstrated through the measurement of the gradient field nonlinearity in a Siemens Sonata 1.5 T MRI system. The measured gradient field nonlinearity can be useful for correction of the related errors in, for example, diffusion tensor imaging. The method can be conveniently used to map gradient field nonlinearity in any clinical MRI systems.