A complete distortion correction for MR images: I. Gradient warp correction

MR images are known to be distorted because of both gradient nonlinearity and imperfections in the B0 field, the latter caused either by an imperfect shim or sample-induced distortions. This paper describes in detail a method for correcting the gradient warp distortion, based on a direct field mapping using a custom-built phantom with three orthogonal grids of fluid-filled rods. The key advance of the current work over previous contributions is the large volume of the mapping phantom and the large distortions (>25 mm) corrected, making the method suitable for use with large field of view, extra-cranial images. Experimental measurements on the Siemens AS25 gradient set, as installed on a Siemens Vision scanner, are compared with a theoretical description of the gradient set, based on the manufacturer's spherical harmonic coefficients. It was found that over a volume of 320x200x340 mm3 distortions can be successfully mapped to within the voxel resolution of the raw imaging data, whilst outside this volume, correction is still good but some systematic errors are present. The phenomenon of through-plane distortion (also known as 'slice warp') is examined in detail, and the perturbation it causes to the measurements is quantified and corrected. At the very edges of the region of support provided by the phantom, through-plane distortion is extreme and only partially corrected by the present method. Solutions to this problem are discussed. Both phantom and patient data demonstrate the efficacy of the gradient warp correction.