Patent ID: 8030920

Claim:
A method for modifying a pulse sequence, the method comprising the steps of: calculating timing and amplitudes of a pulse sequence; performing a cost function analysis on desired gradient overlap regions of the pulse sequence; determining the available encoding time based on the costliest axis per overlap region; resetting a maximum gradient amplitude for one or more gradient axes based on the cost function analysis and/or resetting local slew rate, up to global slew rate, for one or more gradient axes based on the cost function analysis to utilize some or all of the available encoding time per overlap region; applying a peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) model based at least in part on the pulse sequence; comparing an output of the PNS model to a PNS limit; adjusting a global slew rate used to calculate the timing of the pulse sequence if the output of the PNS model exceeds the PNS limit; recalculating timing and amplitudes of the pulse sequence based on the adjusted global slew rate and the reset maximum gradient amplitudes and/or the local slew rate; and repeating the steps of applying, comparing, adjusting, performing, resetting, and recalculating until the output of the PNS model is within the PNS limit.