MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Tris Budiyono (ATRO CB)

a general overview of MRI.

1.the patient is placed in a magnet.
2.a radio wave is sent in.
3.the radio wave is turned off.
4.the patient emits a signal,which is received
and used for .

5.reconstruction of the picture.

Some very basic physics

A proton has a spin,and thus the electrical charge of
the proton also moves.

A moving electrical charge is an electrical current,

and this is accompanied by a magnetic field.
Thus,the proton has its own magnetic field and
it can be seen as a little bar magnet.

magnetic force
nucleus

(magnetic field)

shell

proton

little bar magnet

Can we use every other nucleus for imaging?

We can only use nuclei that have

1H
19F

A spin, and

31P
23Na

An odd number of protons

17O

39K

The hydrogen nucleus is best for MR imaging

as hydrogen occurs in large abundance
throughout the body.

What happens,when we put a patient into the magnet of an MR

machine

Normally
protons
are aligned
external
magnetic
field in a
random fashion.

external magnetic field

N
The protons may align with their
South and North poles in the
direction of the external field,parallel
to it.
Or they may point exactly in the
complete opposite direction,antiparallel.

These types of alignment are on different energy

levels
The difference number is very small and depends on
the strength of the applied magnetic field.

To get a rough idea

for about 10million protons Opposite direction, anti parallel,there are about 10000007direction of the external
field.

10million

10million
10million
Opposite direction, anti -parallel

20million

10million+3

direction of the external field.

10million+6
10million+9

0T

0.5T

1.0 T

1.5 T

N
The protons do not just lay there,
aligned parallel or anti-pallarel to the
magnetic field lines.

It is important to know how fast the protons process.

This speed can be measured as precession frequency,
that is, how many times the protons process per second.

This precession frequency is not constant.

It depends upon the strength of the magnetic field, in
which the protons are placed.

The stronger the magnetic field, the faster the procession

rate and higher the procession frequency.

Larmor equation

0B0
0 is the precession frequency (in Hz or MHz).

It is possible and necessary to precisely

calculate this frequency.
This is done by using an equation called
Larmor equation.

B0 is the strength of the external magnetic field,

which is given in Tesla (T)
is the so-called gyro-magnetic ratio

0B0
The equation states that the precession frequency becomes
higher when the magnetic field strength increases.
The exact relationship is determined by the gyro-magnetic
ratio .

This gyro-magnetic ratio is different

for different materials

The value for protons is

42.5MHz/T

Magnets used for imaging mostly have field

strengths somewhere between 0.2 to 1.5 T.

The earths magnetic field is 0.3 and 0.7 G,

the magnet of a refrigerator door has about

100G=0.01T

precession frequency(0 ) for protons

0.5T
21.7MHz

1.0T
42.5MHz

1.5T
64.2MHz

Introducing the coordinate system

Z

To make communication easier,let

us start using a coordinate system.

longitudinal magnetization
Z

The z-axis runs in the direction of

the magnetic field lines.
We will also illustrate the protons
as vectors as little arrows.

A vectors represents a certain force

Y
(by its size) that acts in a certain
direction (direction of the arrow).

longitudinal magnetization
As cannot
this magnetization
in direction
along
We
measure thisismagnetic
force,
as it/
to the external
fields, it
islongitudinal
the same direction,
parallelmagnetic
to the external
is also called
magnetic
field.longitudinal magnetization.
Z
It is actually this new magnetic vector
that may be used to get a signal.

We cannot measure this magnetic force, as it

is the same direction, parallel to the external
magnetic field.

For this a magnetization transverse to the

external magnetic field is necessary.

Primary Magnetic
Resonance Imaging
Magnets

Main magnet
Permanent magnets
This magnet always magnetic and does not use
any energy for work,which are its advantage.
Possible disadvantages are thermal instability,its
limited field strength,and its weight.

A magnet of 0.3 T may weight about 100 tons!

Main magnet
Resistive magnets
In a resistive magnet, an electrical current is passed
through a loop of wire and generates a magnetic field.
They are only magnetic as long as there is an electrical
current flowing through them.

As there is a resistance to the flow of the electricity though

the wire, these magnets get warm when in operation, and
have to be cooled.

Compared with permanent magnets

They achieve a higher filed strength.

Resistive magnets are not very practical with

very high field strengths because they create lots
of heat that must be dissipated.

Main magnet
Superconducting magnets
Superconducting magnets are the ones most
widely used in MR machines at the present time.

They also make use of electricity, but they have

a special current carrying conductor.
This is a cooled down to superconducting
temperature.

About 4K or -269

superconducting temperature.
At this temperature, the current conducting
material loses its resistance for electricity.
So if you send in an electrical current once,
it flows in there permanently, creating a
constant magnetic field.
So called cryogens(helium, nitrogen) are
used for cooling of these magnets, and have
to be refilled once in a while.

Cross-sectional of superconducting magnet

Liquid nitrogen
RF Coil

Gradient Coil
Shim Coil
superconducting Coil

Vacuum

Liquid helium

Quench
When for some reason the temperature rises above
the superconducting temperature in these magnets,
these magnets, there will be a loss of
superconductivity, and sudden resistance to the
flow of electricity.
This results in rapid heat production, which causes
cryogens to boil off rapidly.

Advantage of superconducting magnets

High magnetic field
Excellent magnetic field homogeneity

This is in the order of 10-50 ppm over a

region 45cm in diameter.

Disadvantage of the superconducting

magnets
High costs
Use of rather expensive cryogens

Characteristics of a magnet (MRI)

Permanent

Resistive

Superconducting

Magnetic filed (B0)

Up to 0.3T

Up to 0.3T

0.3T to 4T

Magnetic field
homogeneity

50-100ppm

10-50ppm

1-10ppm

Weight

90.000kg

4.000kg

10.000kg

Cooling

None

Power consumption

20kw

Distance to 0.5 mT
<1m
fringe field

Water,heart exchanger Criogenic

80kw

20kw

2m

10m

a general overview of MRI.

1.the patient is placed in a magnet.

2.a radio wave is sent in.

3.the radio wave is turned off.
4.the patient emits a signal,which is received
and used for .

5.reconstruction of the picture.

Radio frequency pulse (RF pulse)

We sent in a radio wave.
The term radio wave is used to describe an
electromagnetic wave, that is in the frequency
range if the waves which you receive in your
radio.

Energy exchange is possible when protons

and the radio frequency pulse have the same
frequency.

What happens with the protons, when they

are exposed to this RF-pulse.
The radiowave has two effects on the protons
lifts some protons to a higher level of energy.
also causes the protons to precess in step, in phase.

lifts some protons to a higher level of energy.

Z
RF pulse

The RF exchanges energy

with the proton
Y
X

Some of them are lifted to a

higher level of energy, pointing
downward in the illustration.

In effect the magnetization along

the z-axis decrease, as the
protons which point down
neutralize the same number of
protons pointing up.

RF pulse

Y
X
X

also causes the protons to precess in step, in phase.

Z
RF pulse

The RF gets the precessing

protons in synch
Y
X
X
a new transversal magnetization,which
moves around with the precessing
protons.

Secondary Magnetic
Resonance Imaging
Magnets
Volume coils
Surface coils

Volume coils
Volume coils are used in all MR units.
These completely surround the part of the body that is
to be imaged.
These volume coils should be closed to the size of the subject.
The body coil is a permanent part of the scanner, and
surrounds the patient.
It is important, as it is the transmitter for all types of
examinations.
It also receives the signal when larger parts of the body are
imaged.

Surface coils
Surface coils are placed directly on the area of interest, and have
different shapes corresponding to the part to be examined.
They are receiver coils only, most of the received signal coming
from tissues near by; deeper structure cannot be examined
with these coils.

As with the head coils, the RF pulse is transmitted by the body

coil in these cases.

a general overview of MRI.

1.the patient is placed in a magnet.
2.a radio wave is sent in.

3.the radio wave is turned off.

4.the patient emits a signal,which is received
and used for .

5.reconstruction of the picture.

Further details about MR signal

If our protons rotated around in synch, in phase,
and nothing would change, then we would get a
signal .
This, however, is not what happens .

As soon as the RF pulse is switched off, the whole

system, which was disturbed by the RF pulse, goes
back to its original quiet, peaceful state, it relaxes.

The newly established transverse

magnetization starts to disappear,

a process called transversal relaxation .

The longitudinal magnetization grows back
to its original size.

a process called longitudinal relaxation .

longitudinal relaxation
ZZ

X
X

These protons no longer

cancel out the magnetic
RFvectors
pulse
of the same number
of protons pointing up, as
Some
pick up
After
the
RF pulse
is
they
didprotons
before.
energy
,
start
to
walk
on
switched
off,
protons
go
Y
Y So, the magnetization in this
their
and higher
thus to
back hands,
from their
direction,
the
longitudinal
decrease
amount
of i. e.
the lowerthe
state
of energy,
magnetization
increases, and
longitudinal
magnetization
point up again.
finally goes back to its
original value.

longitudinal relaxation (spin-lattice-relaxation)

What happens to the energy which they had
picked up from the RF pulse?
This energy is just handed over to their
surroundings, the so called lattice.

And this is why this process is not only

called longitudinal relaxation, but also spinlattice-relaxation.

If one plots the longitudinal magnetization

vs. time after
Y the RF pulse was switched
off,Xone gets a so-called T1-curve.

Longit.
magn.

T1-curve
MZ=M0(1-e-t/T1)

time

The time that it takes for the longitudinal

magnetization to recover, to go back to its
original value, is described by the longitudinal
relaxation time, also called T1.
This actually is not the exact time it takes ,
but a time constant, describing how fast this
process goes.
T1 is a time constant comparable to the time
constants that for example describe
radioactive decay.

Funning out, they point less and less in the same

direction, and thus transversal magnetization decreases.
Z

Y
X

Y
X

Transversal relaxation time (T2)

If oneZplots transversal magnetization vs.
time after the RF pulse is switched off, one
gets a curve as illustrated, which called a
T2-curve. Y
X
Transv.
magn

T2-curve
MXY=M0e-t/T2

Time

How long is a relaxation time?

T1 is longer than T2, and just to give you idea:

T1 is about 2-5-10 times as long as T2 .

Or in absolute terms in biological tissues:

T1 is about 300 to 2000 msec,

T2 is about 30 to 150 msec,

T1value
T1 was defined as the time when about 63% of the
original longitudinal magnetization is reached.

T2 value
T2 is the time when transversal magnetization
decreased to 37% of the original value.

Approximate
ApproximateTT12relaxation
relaxationtimes
times at
ataafield
field
strength
strengthof
of1.0T
1.0Tfor
forvarious
varioustissues
tissues
Tissue
Fat
Liver
Renal cortex
White matter
Spleen
Gray matter
Muscle
Renal medulla
Blood
Cerebrospinal fluid
Water

T1 (ms)
180
270
360
390
480
520
600
680
800
2000
2500

T2 (ms)
90
50
70
90
80
100
40
140
180
300
2500

a general overview of MRI.

1.the patient is placed in a magnet.
2.a radio wave is sent in.
3.the radio wave is turned off.
4.the patient emits a signal,which is received
and used for .

5.reconstruction of the picture.

90pulse
If after the RF pulse, the number of protons on the
higher energy level equals the number of protons
on the lower energy level, longitudinal
magnetization has disappeared, and there is only
transversal magnetization due to phase coherence.
The magnetic vector seems to have been tilted
90to the side.
The corresponding RF pulse is thus also called a
90pulse.

Z
RF pulse

The
longitudinal
magnetization

90
Y

Two protons precessing One of the two protons

z-axis.
pick up energy,
to go into
- inaround
effectthe
- that
a longitudinal
magnetic
the higher
state of energy.
vector is tilted 90to
the side.

Both processes are due to entirely different

mechanisms, and occur independently even
though at the same time .

These magnetic vectors add up to a sum

vector.

The sum vector will actually perform a

spiraling motion .
Z

Y
X

FID signal (free induction decay)

The sum vector constantly changes its
direction and magnitude while it performs its
spiraling motion.
The sum vector induces an electrical current in
antenna, the MR signal.

This is greatest magnitude immediately

after the RF pulse is switched off and then
decreases. Z

Y
X

FID (free induction decay)

Signal
intensity

The signal disappears

with time, however, has a
constant frequency.

time

Thus, by changing the time between successive

RF pulses, we can influence and modify
magnetization and the signal intensity of tissues.
When you use more than one RF pulse - a
succession of RF pulses - you use a so - called
pulse sequence.
As you can use different pulses, e. g. 90or
180pulses, and the time intervals between
successive pulses can be different pulse
sequences.

TR = time to repeat

The pulse sequence that we used was made up of

one type of pulse only, the 90 pulse.

This was repeated after a certain time, which is

called TR (time to repeat)

How did TR influence the signal

With a long TR we got similar signals from both tissues,
both would appear the same on a MR picture.
Using a shouter TR, there was a difference in signal
intensity between the tissues, determined by their
difference in T1.
The resulting picture is called a T1-weighted picture.
This means, that the difference of signal intensity
between tissues in that picture, the tissue contrast, is
mainly due to their difference in T1.

How do we obtain a T2-weighted image?

First, we use a 90pulse.
The longitudinal magnetization is tilted, we get a transversal
magnetization.
After the pulse is switched off, longitudinal magnetization
starts to reappear, the transversal magnetization, however,
starts to disappear.

Now we do something new

After a certain time we send in a 180pulse.
which we call TE/2, half of TE

After
the
90pulse protons
are
Spine
echoserves
sequence
The
180pulse
to neutralize
the external
dephaseing
due to external
and
Themagnetic
spine
echo
sequence
consists of
a internal
field
inhomogeneities
TR
magnetic
field inhomogeneities
90and
180pulse

90

180

90

180

RF pulse
by
choosing
the
signals can
be T2With
longer different
TEs, the TEs
signal
intensity
difference
weighted
in varying
degrees
with very short
T 2between tissues
will be
depending
much TEs,
on their
effects
yet had time
to reallytimes
showup
T2s,have
theirnot
transversal
relaxation
spin echo
TE/2

TE

The 180pulse rephases the dephasing protons, and

image
a stronger signal,MR
the spin
echo results

It isThe
possible
determine
intensity
magnetization
after
thea timefor
TR
Thelongitudinal
signaltointensity
of thesignal
tissue
after
TEa
This
transversal
magnetization
immediately
is
equal
the
amount
transversal
can
then
inferred
the
T2-curve
at this
tissue
using
abe
spin
echo
sequence
by
combining
starts
toto
disappear
by from
aof
rate
which
is determined
magnetization
we start
out
astissue.
it is thus
tilted
TE.
the T1and
the t2-curve
forwith,
that
bytime
the
transversal
relaxation
time,
and
by
90
thedegrees.
T2-curve.

signal
Longit. relax.

Transv. relax.

TR

TE

time

When
only
wait
a very short
With awe
long
TR,
differences
in TTE
, inthen
longitudinal
1
A long
TR
and
a
short
TE
differences
in signal
intensity
dueimportant
to differences
magnetization
time are
not very
any in
T
hadhave
timeregained
to become
pronounced.
more,
asnot
all yet
tissues
their
full
2 have
magnetization.
Thelongitudinal
T1- and T2-curves
for two different tissues are depicted
signal

time

TR
TE

The resulting picture is thus neither T1-nor T2weighted, but mostly determined by the
proton density of the tissues.

Proton density weighted image

(Spin density)

When TR
we wait
a long
TR and
A long
and
a long
TElong TE, differences in T2

have had time enough to become pronounced, the

Withresulting
a long TR
there isare
prevailing differences in T1.
picture
T2no
-weighted.
With the long TE however, differences in T2 become pronounced.
signal

TR

TE

time

Thus the resulting picture is T2-weighted.

T2-weighted image

With a short TR, tissues have not recovered their

When TETR
is short,
differences
in T2 cannot really
A longitudinal
shorter
and
a
short
TE
magnetization, thus differences in T1 will
manifest themselves, so the resulting picture is still T1show
up
inaform
of signal
intensity
differences.
When
we
wait
shorter
time
TR,
differences
in T1 influence tissue
weighted.
contrast to a larger extent, the picture is T1-weighted, especially
when we also wait a short TE.
signal

time

TR

TE

When TE is short, differences in T2 cannot really

manifest themselves, so the resulting picture is still T1weighted.

T1-weighted image

Weighting of spin echo imaging as a function of

repetition times (TR) and echo time (TE)
Repetition times (TR)

Short TE
(<40ms)
long TE
(>80ms)

Short (<300ms) Intermediate

(300ms-1000ms)
T1
PD & T1
-weighted
-weighted

T1 &T2
-weighted

PD,T1 &T2
-weighted

Long
(>2000ms)

PD
-weighted
T2
-weighted

TE (short)

(ms)
10
20

Proton density image

40
100

T1-weighted image
T2-weighted image

250
500

TR (short)
25

50

100

200

400

1000

2000

3000 (ms)

a general overview of MRI.

1.the patient is placed in a magnet.
2.a radio wave is sent in.
3.the radio wave is turned off.
4.the patient emits a signal,which is received
and used for .
5.reconstruction of the picture.