title: Peripheral nerve stimulation characteristics of an asymmetric head-only gradient coil compatible with a high-channel-count receiver array.
abstract: To characterize peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) of an asymmetric head-only gradient coil that is compatible with a commercial high-channel-count receive-only array.
  
  
  
  Two prototypes of an asymmetric head-only gradient coil set with a 42-cm inner diameter were constructed for brain imaging at 3T with maximum performance specifications of up to 85 mT/m and 708 T/m/s. Tests were performed in 24 volunteers to measure PNS thresholds with the transverse (x = left-right; y = anterior-posterior [A/P]) gradient coils of both prototypes. Fourteen of these 24 volunteers were also tested for the z-gradient PNS in the second prototype and were scanned with high-slew-rate echo planar imaging (EPI) immediately after the PNS tests.
  
  
  
  For both prototypes, the y-gradient PNS threshold was markedly higher than the x-gradient threshold. The z-gradient threshold was intermediate between those for the x- and y-coils. Of the 24 volunteers, only two experienced y-gradient PNS at 80 mT/m and 500 T/m/s. All volunteers underwent the EPI scan without PNS when the readout direction was set to A/P.
  
  
  
  Measured PNS characteristics of asymmetric head-only gradient coil prototypes indicate that such coils, especially in the A/P direction, can be used for fast EPI readout in high-performance neuroimaging scans with substantially reduced PNS concerns compared with conventional whole body gradient coils. Magn Reson Med 76:1939-1950, 2016. © 2015 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Seung-Kyun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Graziani
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piel
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Budesheim
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fiveland
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Ek Tsoon
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amm
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas K-F
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Matt A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huston
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Yunhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York, USA.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Schenck
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D058542:Implantable Neurostimulators; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: EPI; PNS; head-only gradient coil; neuroimaging; peripheral nerve stimulation