Objective. To explore the optimal
b
value setting for diffusion tensor imaging of rats’ spinal cord at ultrahigh field strength (7 T). Methods. Spinal cord diffusion tensor imaging data were collected from 14 rats (5 healthy, 9 spinal cord injured) with a series of
b
values (200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 s/mm2) under the condition that other scanning parameters were consistent. The image quality (including image signal-to-noise ratio and image distortion degree) and data quality (i.e., the stability and consistency of the DTI-derived parameters, referred to as data stability and data consistency) were quantitatively evaluated. The min-max normalization method was used to process the calculation results of the four indicators. Finally, the image and data quality under each
b
value were synthesized to determine the optimal
b
value. Results.
b
=
200
s
/
m
m
2
and
b
=
900
s
/
m
m
2
ranked in the top two of the comprehensive evaluation, with the best image quality at
b
=
200
s
/
m
m
2
and the best data quality at
b
=
900
s
/
m
m
2
. Conclusion. Considering the shortcomings of the ability of low
b
values to reflect the microstructure,
b
=
900
s
/
m
m
2
can be used as the optimal
b
value for 7 T spinal cord diffusion tensor scanning.