Synopsis

This lecture will discuss how bipolar magnetic gradients can be used to encode diffusion and flow. We will describe diffusion MRI in terms of modeling diffusion, the effect of diffusion on the MRI signal and the effect of tissue microstructure on diffusive displacements. We will describe how diffusion encoding gradients can be specifically designed to enhance sensitivity to specific microstructural features. We talk about the use of phase contrast MRI to measure blood flow including the need to optimize gradient areas, the use of magnetic moment nulling and other approaches to gradient waveform optimization.