Distortion-free Diffusion Imaging Using BUDA-gSlider on the Connectome 2.0 System

Abstract

Motivation: High-performance gradients of the Connectome 2.0 system drastically improve diffusion and imaging encoding to enable submillimeter diffusion imaging with high geometric fidelity. Goal(s): To enable high-resolution, distortion-free diffusion imaging with adequate SNR. Approach: Distortion-free BUDA-gSlider acquisition was deployed on the Connectome 2.0 system, and was compared against acquisitions using gradients derated to the level of clinical systems. Results: The Connectome 2.0 system provides improved diffusion-weighted images with higher SNR and geometric fidelity, particularly at submillimeter resolutions. Impact: High-performance Connectome 2.0 gradients enable high-resolution, distortion-free diffusion-weighted imaging with improved SNR at submillimeter resolutions.