What is the typical range of gradient slew rates in MRI systems?

The typical range of gradient slew rates in MRI systems is indeed between 70mT/m/s and 120mT/m/s. Gradient slew rate is a critical performance parameter in MRI as it defines how quickly the magnetic field gradients can be switched on and off. Higher slew rates allow for faster imaging sequences, reducing motion artifacts and improving temporal resolution.

This range is commonly found in modern clinical MRI systems, enabling advanced imaging techniques such as echo planar imaging (EPI), which rely on rapid gradient switching. The ability to rapidly change the magnetic field gradients contributes significantly to achieving high-quality images in a shorter amount of time, which is essential for patient comfort and the efficiency of imaging protocols.

The other ranges, while they may refer to outliers or older systems, do not represent the current standard for most clinical MRI machines in use today. Systems with lower slew rates generally limit the types of imaging techniques that can be effectively used and may lead to longer scan times or lower image quality.