Pulse Sequences for Diffusion-Weighted MRI

MRI data collection is described in terms of pulse sequences (i.e. prescribed temporal applications of radiofrequency and gradient magnetic fields), which are in turn used for signal creation, spatial encoding, and control of image contrast. Additional gradient magnetic fields can be used in a pulse sequence to make the MR image contrast sensitive to thermal motion of water, but the resulting sensitization to cardiac and patient motion must be accounted for in order to obtain high-quality images with meaningful information. The many challenges and strategies for diffusion-weighted pulse sequences are discussed in detail.