Improved across-scanner reproducibility using vendor-agnostic diffusion sequences

Motivation: The reproducibility of diffusion MRI (dMRI) data collected at multiple sites can be affected by differences between MRI scanners, especially scanners from different manufacturers. Goal(s): To develop vendor-neutral dMRI pulse sequences using our Pulseq development platform and reduce the inter-scanner variability between scanners from different vendors. Approach: Using a diffusion phantom and with three human subjects, we tested inter-scanner variability using Pulseq and vendor-specific product sequences. We report inter-scanner variations using standard error for mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy. Results: Pulseq sequence yielded dramatically better results (>2x reduction in variability) enhancing the reliability of dMRI measurements across scanners. Impact: The vendor-neutral Pulseq-diffusion sequence has the potential to harmonize data acquisition and improve the robustness of diffusion MRI, making it an invaluable tool for advancing multi-site studies.