Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Mary Holleboom
ENGR 302
May 7, 2002
 Outline

 Overview & History

 Imaging Principles
 Advanced Techniques
 Imaging Hardware
 Safety
 Applications
 Overview & History
 Use strong magnetic field to scan an object and produce an image
 No radiation
 Utilize magnetism of internal particles

 1973 – Back projection imaging technique

 1975 – Phase and frequency encoding, Fourier Transform
 1977 – Imaging of the whole body,
Echo-planar imaging: real-time movie imaging
 1993 – Functional MRI
 Imaging Principles
 Spin
 Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
 +/- 1/2
 Particle behaves like a magnet
in presence of magnetic field
 Grouped in packets - create
magnetization vector

 Fourier transform
 Most common technique used today
 Sequence of applied gradients
 Fourier Transform
 RF pulse
 Slice selection gradient pulse
 Phase encoding gradient pulse
 Frequency encoding gradient pulse
 Signal recorded
 Process repeated 128 – 256 times
 Signal Fourier Transformed in 2
directions
 Frequency encoding direction
 Phase encoding direction
 Intensities of data peaks converted
into intensities of pixels
 Tomographic image
 Advanced Techniques
 Volume (3-D) Imaging
 Group of slices (volume) used instead of
one slice at a time
 Flow Imaging (MR angiography)
 Image blood flowing through arteries &
veins
 Velocity of blood flow determined by
intensity of image
 Echo Planar Imaging (functional MRI)
 Imaging relates body function or thought
to specific locations in the brain
 Tomographic images produced at video
rates
 Imaging Hardware
 Magnets  Coils
 Resistive
Permanent
Superconducting  Inductive & capacitive elements allow it
to resonate
 Solid
Electromagnet
Strongest
magnetic material
 Gradient coils
 Cooled
Weakest bymagnetic
air
Electromagnet field
 Create gradients in equilibrium magnetic
 Greater
Used
Current
forresistance
flows
open in
MRwire
scanners
coil to fields
 create
Weaker
 a magnetic
Arranged
magnetic field
in any position
field  Room temperature coils
 Nearly
 No zero
needresistance
for patient in
to wire
be at 
RF coils
surrounded
temperature byto
close magnet
absolute zero  Transmit magnetic field
 Cooling achieved with liquid  Receive RF signal from spins
helium or nitrogen  Various coils for specific applications

 Surface
 Bird cage
 Saddle
 Phased-array
 Litz
 Safety
 Patients
 No biological hazards from magnetic
fields yet discovered
 Most pregnant women prohibited from
undergoing MR imaging to prevent
possible damage to fetus
 Most people with metal implants
prohibited
 Pacemakers - malfunction due to magnet
 Cerebral aneurysm clip - magnet could
move clip
 Most orthopedic implants safe because
they are firmly embedded in bone
 RF coil failure can severely burn patient
 Equipment
 Extremely powerful magnets
 No ferromagnetic objects
allowed near scanner
 Example
 Bucket pulled off ground and
into magnet
 Fully loaded pallet jacket
pulled into bore
 Fix problem
 Pull object off magnet
 Use forceful device such as a
winch
 Turn off magnet completely
Applications
 Brain
 Tumors
 Aneurysms
 Blood clots
 Spine
 Individual vertebrae
 Knees
 Shoulders
 Hips
 Prevent strokes
 Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis
QUESTIONS