Reducing peripheral nerve stimulation due to gradient switching using an additional uniform field coil

This study shows that larger rates of change of gradient with time (dG/dt) can be achieved at the threshold for peripheral nerve stimulation by applying a uniform concomitant field varying synchronously with a transverse field gradient and that this increase may be achieved without significant reduction of the spatial extent of the region over which imaging can be carried out. Realization of similar benefits through application of a uniform, z-directed field varying synchronously with an axial gradient is also demonstrated. The design and construction of transverse and axial coil arrangements is described, along with the results of volunteer studies that were carried out on 20 subjects, with the subjects positioned with four different regions (head, heart, hips, and knees) centered in the coils. These experiments were carried out at zero-field on a prototype system in which the coils were not actively shielded. The uniform concomitant field coil was not torque balanced. The increase in the rate of change of gradient at the threshold for peripheral nerve stimulation that could be achieved by the addition of the uniform field depends on body position and was larger for the transverse coils (head = × 1.9 ± 0.6; heart = × 0.9 ± 0.3; hips = × 1.4 ± 0.4; knees = × 1.5 ± 0.4) than for the axial coils (head = × 1.5 ± 0.6; heart = × 0.8 ± 0.3; hips = × 1.3 ± 0.4; knees = × 1.1 ± 0.3). Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.