Inherent Correction of Artifacts from Large-Scale Patient Motion in High-Resolution Multishot Diffusion-Weighted EPI

Shayan Guhaniyogi¹, Allen Song¹, Jeffrey Petrella², Nan-Kuei Chen¹

Multishot EPI in diffusion weighted imaging allows improved spatial resolution and reduced geometric distortions compared to single-shot acquisitions. However, multishot EPI acquisitions are very sensitive to patient motion. To overcome this limitation we present a technique which inherently corrects motion-induced artifacts and blurring in multishot diffusion-weighted EPI images using only the originally acquired data, without needing navigator echoes. The technique is shown to greatly reduce artifacts and blurring, enabling visual identification of small structures such as the optic nerve fibers. This method is anticipated to be valuable in clinical and neuroscience investigations requiring high resolution images with detailed microstructure information.