Physiological effects of human body imaging with 300 mT/m gradients

Purpose: The use of high-performance gradient systems (i.e., high gradient strength and/or high slew rate) for human MRI is limited by physiological effects (including the elicitation of magnetophosphenes and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)). These effects, in turn, depend on the interaction between time-varying magnetic fields and the body, and thus on the participant’s position with respect to the scanner’s isocenter. This study investigated the occurrence of magnetophosphenes and PNS when scanning participants on a high-gradient (300 mT/m) system, for different gradient amplitudes, ramp times, and participant positions. Methods: Using a whole-body 300 mT/m gradient MRI system, a cohort of participants was scanned with the head, heart, and prostate at magnet isocenter and a train of trapezoidal bipolar gradient pulses, with ramp times from 0.88 to 4.20 ms and gradient amplitudes from 60 to 300 mT/m. Reports of magnetophosphenes and incidental reports of PNS were obtained. A questionnaire was used to record any additional subjective effects. Results: Magnetophosphenes were strongly dependent on participant position in the scanner. 87% of participants reported the effect with the heart at isocenter, 33% with the head at isocenter, and only 7% with the prostate at isocenter. PNS was most widely reported by participants for the vertical gradient axis (67% of participants), and was the dominant physiological effect for ramp times below 2 ms. Conclusion: This study evaluates the probability of eliciting magnetophosphenes during whole-body imaging using an ultra-strong gradient MRI system. It provides empirical guidance on the use of high-performance gradient systems for whole-body human MRI.