Diffusion Weighted Imaging using a Prostate Nonlinear Gradient Coil

This work presents the early performance characteristics of an inside-out prostate nonlinear gradient (NLG). Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) could detect prostate cancers non-invasively. However, it requires high b-values, which in turn require a gradient pulse with a long duration, increasing the echo time. A longer echo time means a lower SNR and lower contribution from short T2 components. NLG coil circumvents this issue by having a gradient with a high amplitude within a limited field of view, which applies to prostate imaging.