# Dynamic High-Order Shim System for Improved Neuro-MRI

> **NIH NIH R43** · RESONANCE RESEARCH, INC. · 2024 · $306,203

## Abstract

Abstract
The purpose of this proposal to demonstrate the feasibility of building a practical shim sub-system based on a
minimally interacting in-bore shim coil using a highly controllable power array for use in commercial MRI scanners
for multi-band neuroimaging and spectroscopy applications at high fields.
Over the past several years, the importance of improved B0 shimming for echo planar imaging (EPI) has been
recognized by several groups. Technical developments have focused on ways of providing higher spatial
frequency corrections and higher strength of local B0 corrections. Two methods of accomplishing those goals
were applied: 1) multi-coil (MC) arrays frequently utilizing DC-coupled RF coils or 2) very-high order shim (VHOS)
inserts based on spherical harmonic (SH) symmetries. Also, for the human brain, optimizing the B0 shim
corrections on a slice-by-slice (SBS) basis was demonstrated to significantly improve homogeneity. Because of
this, several groups have developed dynamic updating approaches, including strategies to mitigate artifacts due
to eddy-current effects associated with dynamic shim updating (DSU). It has been demonstrated that the use of
VHOS inserts based on 4th order SH can provide superior shim performance to sparse MC arrays for both static
and dynamic shimming. It has also been demonstrated that theoretically and experimentally VHOS inserts can
achieve MB=2 with equivalent homogeneity to SBS with significant gains over whole brain shimming maintained
up to MB=4. Thus, a new VHOS insert technology capable of distinct corrections at up to 3 or 4 spatially disparate
slice locations simultaneously with equivalent performance to SBS shimming enabled by DSU technology will
greatly improve performance of MB EPI and other sensitive techniques.
To achieve the goal of up to MB=4 we will leverage our recent work on second generation 7T scanners. The
goal of this Phase I proposal is to demonstrate an optimized prototype of easily installable digitally controlled,
real-time multiband shimming system for Siemens Terra 7T implementation with commercialization in Phase II.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11004834
- **Project number:** 1R43EB036372-01
- **Recipient organization:** RESONANCE RESEARCH, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** PIOTR STAREWICZ
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $306,203
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11004834

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11004834, Dynamic High-Order Shim System for Improved Neuro-MRI (1R43EB036372-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11004834. Licensed CC0.

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