CT and MRI physics
course
Mr. Saddam Alzofi
B.Sc. in Rad. Technology (SUST)
M.Sc. in Medical Diagnostic imaging(UMST)
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Course outline
Basic principle and component of CT scan
Data acquisition and method of data acquisition
Image reconstruction and types of CT images format
Image display , communication and storage
Image quality and CT artifact
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3 Course outline
Basic principle of MRI
MRI component & MRI hardware
Image formation in MRI
Pulse sequence and image weighting and slice selection
Flow phenomenon
MRI artifact and contrast agents
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4 Historical background of CT scan
X-ray: The beginning Why CT required?
X-Rays founded in 1895 by Wilhelm Limitations of Plain radiographs??
Conrad Roentgen
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5 Conventional Tomography
Tomography is imaging by
sections or sectioning.
A device used in tomography
is called a tomograph, while
the image produced is a
tomogram.
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Conventional Computerized
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Tomography image Tomography image
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7 Development of CT
1895 Rontgen discover x- ray
1917 radon develops reconstruction mathematics
1963 Cormack formulate x-ray absorption in tissue
1972 Hounsfield demonstrate CT
1975 first whole body CT
1979 Hounsfield and Cormack receive noble prize
1983 conventional CT demonstrated
1989 spiral CT demonstrated
1991 multi-slice CT introduced
8 Definition of CT
Computerized Tomography is the process of scanning a
patient to gather x-ray absorption coefficients taken from
thin sections through the body, obtaining multiple
measurements from these coefficients and reconstructing
these measurements into an image that displays that
section’s anatomy.
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9 This can be broken down to five components
1- Scanning a patient - Involves the movement of the tube and the
detectors
2- Gather x-ray absorption coefficients taken from thin sections
through the body – selection of slices (Tomo)
3- Obtaining multiple measurements from these coefficients -
involves the computer and computing
4- Reconstructing these measurements into an image - - involves
the computer and computing
5- Display’s that section’s anatomy – using computer
10 Evolution of the term: Computed Tomography
Computerized transverse axial tomography (CTAT)
Computer assisted tomography (CAT)
Computerized axial tomography (CAT)
Computerized reconstruction (CR)
Reconstructive tomography (RT)
Computerized Tomography (CT)
Computed tomography (CT) – commonly used now?
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CT generations
First Generation CT :
Moving in translate-rotate configuration.
Pencil- shaped beam.
Single detector ( NaI ).
5- min scan time
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2nd generation
• Fan Beam
• Array of detectors
• Translate and rotate
• Fewer view angles
• Scan time 30 sec
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13 3rd generation scanner
Rotate – rotate configuration.
Fan shaped-beam.
Detector array.
3-5 sec.scan time.
Disadvantage: ring artifacts
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14 4th generator scanner
Rotate-stationary configuration
Fan shaped beam
Detector array
1sec scan time
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15 5th generation Electron Beam CT Scanner
A waveguide accelerates a focused electron
beam onto a semicircular tungsten target
through a bending magnet. Actually, there
are four tungsten targets, so four tissue slices
are scanned at the same time.
Nothing moves except the electron beam.
Scan time 50 ms.
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Conventional (Non-spiral) CT
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Tube rotates once around patient
Table stationary
data for one slice collected
Table increments one slice thickness
Repeat
Tube rotates opposite direction
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17 6th generation (Helical/Spiral CT)
The movement of the x-ray tube is not
spiral. It appears that way because the
patient moves through the plane of
rotation during the image.
Patient is transported continuously
through gantry while data are
acquired continuously during several
360-deg rotations
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18 7th generation (MULTISLICE CT)
•Efficient x-ray tube
use.
•Longer anatomic
coverage/s
Single v/s
multisection scanner
The physical principles and technology of CT include
19 thee steps:
1- Data Acquisition.
2- Data Processing.
3- image display, storage, and communication.
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22 System Components of CT
The main components of CT are:
Scanner
GANTRY
TABLE
Operating console.
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Component of CT
Scanner
Operating console
Gantry
Table
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Gantry assembly
A. X-ray tube
B. Collimators and filters
C. Detectors:
Scintillation crystals
Gas filled detectors.
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26 Tube Specification
X-ray tube for CT is similar in design to the conventional radiography
tube, but is specially designed to handle and dissipate excessive heat
units – much higher heat loading
The anode heating capacity must be high, at least several million heat
unit (8-MUH).
High speed rotators are used for best heat dissipation.
Small focal spot size.
Large anode disks e.g. 200 mm (conventional tube disk 120 – 160
mm).
The anode disk is thicker than conventional .
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Collimation
Tow types of collimation in CT scanner :
Pre patient collimator
Post patient collimator
The main function of CT collimator is :
Restricts the field of view of detectors
Reduces the scatter radiation on the detector
Aperture width helps determine the slice thickness
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Filtration
There are two types of filtration utilized in CT.
Mathematical filters such as bone or soft tissue algorithms are
included into the CT reconstruction process to enhance resolution
of a particular anatomical region of interest.
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Filtration
Inherent tube filtration and filters made of
aluminum is utilized in CT to shape the
beam intensity by filtering out low energy
photons that contribute to the production
of scatter.
Special filters called “bow-tie” filters
absorb low energy photons before
reaching the patient
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Types of detectors
1
•Gas-filled detectors
2
•Scintillation detectors
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Detectors
Scintillation detectors Gas-filled detectors
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Properties of detectors
1
•Capture efficiency
2
•Conversion efficiency
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• The overall total detetction efficiency of gas filled detectors is
45 %.
• The Scintellation detectors is highly efficient at detecting x-rays,
almost 90 % of the x-rays are absorbed and contribute to the
output signal.
• But the space between each detector is big, so the overall
detection efficiency may only be 50 %.
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Table
Automated device linked to the computer and gantry
Designed to move in increments after every scan
according to the technologists scan program.
Accurate and reliable table movements is vital to image
quality and accuracy .
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Computer
Reconstruction and post processing
Control of all scanner components
Control of data acquisition, processing, display.
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