LINE SCAN DIFFUSION IMAGING

A novel line scan diffusion imaging sequence (LSDI) is introduced. LSD I is inherently insensitive to motion artifacts and high quality diffu sion maps of the brain can be obtained rapidly without the use of head restraints or cardiac gating, Results from a stroke study and abdomin al diffusion images are presented. The results indicate that it is fea sible to use the LSDI technique for clinical evaluation of acute ische mic stroke, In contrast to echo-planar diffusion imaging, LSDI does no t require modified gradient hardware and can be implemented on convent ional scanners. Thus, LSDI should dramatically increase the general av ailability of robust clinical diffusion imaging.