Image distortion correction for MRI in low field permanent magnet systems with strong B0 inhomogeneity and gradient field nonlinearities.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To correct for image distortions produced by standard Fourier reconstruction techniques on low field permanent magnet MRI systems with strong [Formula: see text] inhomogeneity and gradient field nonlinearities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Conventional image distortion correction algorithms require accurate [Formula: see text] maps which are not possible to acquire directly when the [Formula: see text] inhomogeneities also produce significant image distortions. Here we use a readout gradient time-shift in a TSE sequence to encode the [Formula: see text] field inhomogeneities in the k-space signals. Using a non-shifted and a shifted acquisition as input, [Formula: see text] maps and imag..