Leveraging unprecedented ultra-high strength gradients in commercially available MRI for in-vivo diffusion tensor CMR

Motivation: Spin echo diffusion tensor cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DT-CMR) suffers from low SNR and resolution due to the time-consuming motion-compensated encoding gradients required. Goal(s): Shorten TEs for motion compensated spin echo (MCSE) DT-CMR techniques to improve SNR and allow higher spatial resolution using ultra-high strength whole body gradients (200mT/m) newly available in commercially available scanners. Approach: We implemented second order MCSE and acquired data in healthy subjects at peak systole and end diastole with maximum gradient strength of 146mT/m. Results: We demonstrate high quality MCSE DT-CMR data with reduced TEs and higher spatial resolution than on previously available scanners using similar protocols. Impact: Increases in imaging efficiency in DT-CMR enabled by the use of ultra-high strength gradients on commercial MRI systems will deliver shorter scans and improvements in spatial resolution which are vital steps on the road to clinical translation of DT-CMR.