Simulated Analysis of SNR and SNR efficiency in motion compensated single-slab DWI, multislab, SMSlab and 2D SMS EPI Techniques

Motivation: Motion-compensated single-slab DWI enables whole-brain 3D imaging without slab boundary artifacts. However, the impact of motion compensation and short TR on SNR is unclear, and the relationship of SNR and SNR efficiency compared to conventional DWI techniques remains unknown. Goal(s): To investigate the relationship between SNR and SNR efficiency for motion compensated single-slab DWI, multislab, SMSlab and 2D SMS EPI under a whole-brain protocol. Approach: The SNR, SNR efficiency, and acquisition time of the four sequences are simulated at a fixed b-value. Results: Single-slab DWI demonstrates SNR advantage. However, its SNR efficiency is significantly lower than that of conventional techniques. Impact: This research provides valuable insights into the efficiency of motion-compensated single-slab DWI compared to conventional techniques, guiding future 3D DWI developments in diffusion imaging.