SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS & Techniques

 Energy Used : MRI ……

- Magnet  Magnetic Field Benefits of Heaven

Physics of Hell!!
- Coil  Radio Waves
 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance :
 Nuclei of all atoms contain protons,
 Only those with an odd number has nuclear magnetic resonance.
 Hydrogen has a single proton and abundant in the body, in :
 Water (free or attached to other molecules) and
 Fat, and so provides the best MRI signals.
 MRI measures the hydrogen content of voxels in each transverse slice  corresponding
image pixel on the screen.

Summary of MRI Work

 Protons has +Ve charge.

 Hydrogen nucleus contains 1 Proton.
 Protons are rotating  Act as small magnet  Magnetic field around.
 (Body net magnetization = near 0) - Although all these H protons, as small magnets within
the body , But due to direction of rotation is variable & against each others.
 Magnet  Uniting the direction of rotation of protons.
 Coil  Radiofrequency "RF"  Change angle of protons by acquiring energy
 "RF" stop  Protons miss energy  apparatus receive energy & forming Image from it.

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

 Types of Magnets : "3 Types" Types of MRI Apparatus:

1- Permanent
2- Electric
3- Super conducting

Permanent ciretcelE Super conducting

Core erutcurtS Natural Metallic Coil + Electric current Superconducting Coil
Magnet + Liquid He ( -300 c )
Magnetic Field Permanent tnerruc ciretcele ot detaleR Permanent allover that
Helium in the core
How to Stop Destroy by heat Just Cut electric current Quench = Liberate Liquid
Magnetic Field or beat He
(Earth's Magnetic Field: 5 × 10-5 T) * 1 Tesla = 20.000 time of Gravity

Quench = Liberate Liquid He  Gas , in cases of emergency  Loss of Magnetization

 Super conducting Magnet & Helium :

- Very cold Temp. of liquid helium "- 300"  Super conducting coil loss resistance 
electric current rotating forever in it  core become electric magnet with out outer
source of electricity. TO KEEP LOW TEMPRATURE OF LIQUID He:

- Apparatus core contains 1400 L of liquid He

1- Layers of Iron & Temperature reflecting Layers
- Price: 1 Liter He = 20 $ , X 1400 = 28000 $
2- Vacuum in-between layers
- 1 Liter of He  700 L Gas
3- Cooled Head in (- 200 & - 280 C.)
NB. Protective Valve  Keep Pressure constant
“Main Insulator”
by liberate over recompressed He  Avoid Explosion 4- Recompressor  to decompressed Gas

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

WHICH PART of MAGNET CORE USED IN IMAGING?

THE SITE OF THE HOMOGENOUS MAGNETIZATION,

WHERE RADIOGRAPHED ORGAN BE WITH IN

- Gradient coil inside the core is grading magnetic field inside ‫ذسج اٌّجاي ٌّٕاطك‬٠ ٗٔ‫ ا‬ٜ‫ا‬
ٖ‫ر‬ٛ‫سج اٌّأخ‬ٛ‫ اٌص‬ٝ‫حذز ذذاخً ف‬٠ ‫ ِخرٍف فال‬ٟ‫س‬١‫ا ِجاي ِغٕاط‬ٙٔ‫حح وا‬٠‫ وً شش‬ٍٝ‫رُ اٌعًّ ع‬٠ ‫ِخرٍفٗ فثزٌه‬
- Without Protection, 1.5 Tesla magnetic field  9 m Vertical & 11 m Horizontal.
 How to Protect From Magnetic field?

1- Passive Shielding: Anti magnetic layer in the walls of the room.

2- Active Shielding: Protective magnetic coil, around core, with magnetic field
against the diagnostic field  make it limited to the room.

‫ ِعاوس‬ٝ‫س‬١‫حذز ِجاي ِغٕاط‬٠ ‫ ِّا‬, ‫اص‬ٙ‫ ٌٍج‬ٍٝ‫ اذجاٖ عىس اٌٍّف االص‬ٝ‫ ف‬ٝ‫س‬١‫ ٍِف ِغٕاط‬ٛ٘ ٚ
. ‫ا‬١‫ّا االخش خاسج‬ِٕٙ ‫ضعف وال‬١‫ف‬

NB  We need to protect outside from Our Magnet & Magnet From Outside sources of Magnetization!!

- So the room of MRI must be away from any magnetic source such as elevators.
- Protective coil , when exposed to cretin Magnetic field  It produce similar
field against it  Protect Magnet in side It.
 Why MRI is Muti-planner ?

 MRI Gradient coils , are present in the 3 Planes ,

X , Y & Z  So it can Acquire images in this main
3 Planes or any oblique plane.


By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

Protons & Movements

 Rotation of Spin vector: Proton rotation around its axis ,

Causing surrounding magnetic field due to its +ve charge.
 Precession: Proton wobbles around the direction of magnetic field.

Precession is related to power of Magnetic field

‫اي ان البروتون له حركتان دائرٌتان فى نفس الوقت‬

" ‫دوران حول محوره "مثل دوران االرض‬

‫و تأرجح حول محور المجال المغناطٌسً للجهاز‬

" ‫"مثل تأرجح المغزل او النحلة‬

Frequency of precession (f) = Larmor frequency

- is proportional to the product of:

●Magnetic field strength, &

●Constant property of the nucleus called

gyromagnetic ratio γ

For hydrogen nuclei in a field of 1 T,

f =42.6 MHz.

oS Stronger magnetic field,

 Faster proton precession

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

 Radiofrequency coils
 The devise surrounding scanned organ
 Source of RF & receive it again from

H protons  forming image.

 some or all spin-up protons pick up

energy turn spin down, i.e. excited.
This depending on the length and strength of RF pulse.
surface coils are designed to be as close as possible to the examined area. This
ensures better resolution of the images with adequate adjustment of the field of view
 Excitation

 The change of precession angle "Alpha"

by acquiring energy from RF.
 Coil  RF  change angle of precession.
until the protons precss on its side.
i.e. in horizontal plan “XY”.
 i.e. Precession begin around Z “Vertical Plan” “1”
 RF “strength = B1”  Increase Angle “ Alpha α“ of Precession  Until precession
of at X-Y “Horizontal” Plan “2”
 Mz  Magnetic Field of the proton in state “1”
 Mxy  “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ ““2”

Excitation Relaxation
Rotation of Proton in XY Plan  Signal

i.e. “Like in Denamo , Magnet rotating with in a coil”

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

 How Do we get MR signal ?

  Signal From Precession more at XY “The state Like Dynamo”

& Least At “Z” ,

i.e. during relaxation "ie stopped RF"

librated signal continuously Decreased

 Signals obtained from Different Protons

are heterogonous & of widely different signal intensity.

 Foreier Equations

can analyze This different Transformations signals. “Convert it to Square"

 Gradient What is & Why?

 The large Magnet Has single Tesla Power  Single Larmor frequemcy of
precession  All Protons Under the coil acquire & release energy at the same
time & of the same rate  Thus How to acquire image ??

 Gradient : is a magnetic coil , convert the magnetic field from single unique to
 GRADIENT

 Thus Frequency of Precession will be different from section to another.

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

Is The Gradient of Single Direction & Type? ……………….. “ NO “

1- The Gradient Directed From Head To Feet

 Named “Frequency Gradient” ,

As it cause change in Frequency of Precession.

2- The Gradient Directed From Side to side

 Named “Phase Gradient” ,

As it Not changing Frequency But changing phase of Precession.

Pixel & Voxel :

 Pixel : Point with in a square forming image

, ‫سج‬ٛ‫ِشتع ِسطح جضء ِٓ اٌص‬

‫سج‬ٛ‫ْ اٌص‬ٛ‫ى‬٠ ‫ع ٘زٖ اٌّشتعاخ‬١ّ‫ ذج‬ٚ

More Pixels / area  Better image quality.

 Voxel :
Small cubic with in the slice
‫ش جضء ِٓ اٌّمطع‬١‫ ِىعة صغ‬ٛ٘ ٚ

Image Formation & Reconstruction occurs by

 The different Gradients in Multiple direction

 Each voxel give a different signal

 Translated in Gray Scale  Part of Image

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

 “Field Of View” FOV:

- Smaller Field of View  more details in small area  better image , but need
longer time
‫سج‬ٛ‫دج اٌص‬ٛ‫ حساب ج‬ٍٝ‫ ع‬, ‫ع اٌفحص‬٠‫ً اسرخذاَ االوثش ٌرسش‬ٙ‫سرس‬٠ ٓ١١ٕ‫ ٌزٌه تعض اٌف‬ٚ,

 WHAT IS SEQUENCE
It is The different changes in Gradients in Different Intervals  Different sequences of
signal relaxation from different Voxels  MRI is Multi sequences.

Contrast = ‫تباين‬
 The More contrast in Image  The more Details & good image.

 Thus , which signal will be used to form image

 Most Powerful  Very Bright image with less details

 Most weak  Very Dark Image with more less details

But ………….. We need Good image …of Good details …..i.e. of good contrast !!!

Images Acquired From Highest & Least Signal & Best Image

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

 Resonance
 The frequency of the RF generator must very accurately match the Larmor
precession or resonant frequency of the Protons.
 180º pulse:
 An RF pulse of a certain total energy  give to each and every dipole
"Rotating proton"  temporarily reverses tip them through 180º.
 This 180 Pulse , Role is to make Protons Precession of slower one reaching
the faster , & both become in the same phase  Solve dephasing occurred &
signal return high again

‫ا‬ٕٙ١‫ اٌسشعح ت‬ٟ‫ظً ٕ٘ان فاسق ف‬٠ , ٟ‫س االفم‬ٛ‫ي اٌّح‬ٛ‫ا ح‬ٙٔ‫سا‬ٚ‫ د‬ٚ ‫ٔاخ‬ٛ‫ذ‬ٚ‫ عٕذ اورّاي اسرثاسج اٌثش‬: ‫توضيح‬
‫ا ِجاي االخش‬ِٕٙ ً‫ و‬ٟ‫ٍغ‬٠ ٚ ‫ا‬ٕٙ١‫ضداد اٌرثاعذ ت‬٠ ‫لد‬ٌٛ‫س تعض ا‬ٚ‫ ٌزا تّش‬, ٟ‫س‬١‫ اٌّجاي اٌّغٕط‬ٟ‫فٗ ف‬١‫الخرالفاخ طف‬
‫ ذضداد‬ٚ ‫احذج‬ٚ ُِٕٙ ‫ْ االشاسج اٌصادسج‬ٛ‫ فرى‬ٞ‫ُ ِٓ تعض ِشج اخش‬ٙ‫ الرشات‬ٍٝ‫ ذساعذ ع‬, 180 ‫ ٌىٓ ٔثضٗ اي‬,
. ٞ‫ا ِشج اخش‬ٙ‫ذ‬ٛ‫ل‬

 90º pulse:
 An RF pulse of half that total energy
(i.e. half the intensity or half the duration)
 will tip half of the dipoles so that
equal numbers point spin up and spin down,
o Mmobile protons only give signals;
o Protons in large molecules or immobilized in bone  no signals
 for example,

Air, in sinus having no hydrogen, produces no signal

 always appears black.

Fat has higher PD "Proton Density" than other soft tissues.

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

 Factors Control Image CONTRAST :

 Signal or Spin echo

= signal librated from different H protons in different Tissue.

This is the main cause CONTRAST , which depend on:

 Factors of The Tissue :

 Proton Density “PD”

 T1

 T2

 Factors of The working System or Protocol of Examination:

 TR : “Time of Repetition “ = Time between every 2 Excitation.

 TE : “ Time of Echo” = Time between Excitation & Reading “i.e

Receiving signal of Relaxation”

 PD Proton Density :
 Density of Proton in Every Unit of Substance
 The more PD  The more signal

 T1:
 It is a factor measured during Relaxation.
 It is the time of Certain Proton to return to 63 % of its
initial State before Excitation .


 T1 is Long in Looser substance:

- i.e. fluid need more tome to reach this state ,

- While fat reach this state faster  at the same point of time  Fat will liberate more signal

than Fluid  FAT Appear Bright

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

 T2:
Not Related to Relaxation Occurrence , But calculated at Complete Excitation in XY Plan

- After Complete Excitation  Protons precess at Horizontal Plan “XY Plan”

- But there is minute difference in the state of this precession = “De phasing”
- by more time  more difference  until each proton precess in direction againest another
one  signal decrease near 0.

‫ و كلما مر وقت اتسع‬, ‫ تبدء فى التأرجح معا و لكن بفارق زمنى بسيط‬, ‫اى ان البروتونات بعد اكتمال اثارتها بموجاد الراديو‬
. ‫فترق التأرجح حتى تصل لمرحلة التباعد الكامل و يلغى كال منها الطاقة الصادرة من االخر‬

- T2 is the time needed to protons of the substance to reach 37 % of this State .

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

NB. Signal Libration during relaxation ended just when

 At T1WI  Short TR , Short TE complete Dephasing occur , even before Complete
Relaxation.
 At T2WI  Long TR, Long TE

 Is simple manner “Not very accurate scientific” ….. Why short TR in T1WI ?

to acquire signal depending upon T1 bases , rapidly before complete dephasing of T2 occur &
signal lost.

- So, we repeat RF to delay complete dephasing occurrence "Role of 180 RF pulse" .

 PDWI:
reading of signal occurs in a state during which T1 & T2 are nearly equal , But the difference in
Librated signal is related To the density of H proton in Tissues.

 STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery) Sequence

 FLAIR (Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery) Sequence

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

 TERMS : in Arabic

 Spinning = ‫ و هو بمعدل ثابت‬, ‫دوران البروتون حول محوره‬

 PRECESSION = ‫تأرجح البروتون عند تعرضه لمجال مغناطيسى‬

 Larmor Frequency “Omega ώ» =

‫ و الذى يزيد بز يــادة قوة المجال المغناطيسى‬, ‫تردد التأرجح‬

 Flip Angle “Alpha α “ : ‫زاوية ميل تأرجح البروتونات و التى تتعلق بـموجات الراديـــــ( )ــــــو ـ‬

 Excitation = ‫اكتساب البروتون للطاقة تغير زاوية التأرجح‬

 Relaxation = ‫فقد الطاقة المكتسبة من بعد ايقافه و تحرير الطاقة يؤدى الى اشارة تكوين الصورة‬

 K space : memory of saving signals from Different Voxeles.

 T1: the time needed to the excited to return to 63 % of its relaxing state.

 T2 : it is the time needed to the matter protons to gain 37 % of its de-phasing state.

By A. M. Abodahab
 SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

The following table shows T1 and T2 relaxation times for various tissues at 1.5 T.

For example:

 A tissue with a long T1 & T2 (like water) :

 dark in T1-weighted image and bright in T2-weighted image.

 A tissue with a short T1 & a long T2 is

bright in the T1-weighted image and gray in the T2-weighted image.

 Gadolinium contrast agents reduce T1 and T2 times,

 enhanced signal in the T1-weighted image and a reduced signal in the T2-weighted image.

IN CLINICAL PRACTICE :

 Always TE < TR
 Short TR = Average T1 value
, usually < 500 ms
 Long TR = 3 X short TR ,
Usually > 1500 ms
 Short TE < 30 ms
 Long TE = 3 X short TE ,
Usually > 90 ms
Changing of these Times & RF Pulses  Acquiring different sequences

 DIFFUSION DWI
Sequences & parameters in DWI are the same in T2 , But The Gradient added in Diffusion
•The gradient Causing inversion of T2 effect on fluids
……..i.e. physiological fluids in Diffusion appears of low signal “Black”.
 ADC Map is a computerized image.
 Obtained by taking multiple Diffusion images on different b Factors.
 This series of images make the rate of diffusion of different molecules can be
calculated in numbers.
 The ADC Map image is inverted in colors ……. i.e. restricted is black & Free is
White.
 Thus in ADC Map , moving cursor on any pixel  show value of protons diffusion
in this site
By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

 “ADC Value”:
 ADC Value = the number obtained / 1000
 i.e. if SD/Mean = 752.5 ,

Thus value 0.7 52 i.e. about 0.7

ADC Value in Glioma Grading :
= To interpret Image:  Low Grade  ADC > 1
 High Grade  ADC < 1
 Look at Diffusion Image & ADC Map

•Area of Restricted Diffusion  High signal in DWI & Low in ADC & Vice versa
• As DWI & T2 are of the same sequence , T2 may affect on the nature of the image of DWI
• Gradient may be unable completely to mask the T2 signal of free fluids

Thus
IN DWI ……. Restricted Diffusion & lesions of very high signal in T2  appears Bright

How to Differentiate ?
-Area of Restriction = Bright in DWI / Dark in ADC

- Lesion of Very Hi T2 signal = Bright in DWI / Bright in ADC

 As diffusion in the brain tissue occurs :In between cells , i.e. In extracellular fluid

The restriction of Diffusion will be related to:

 Size of Cells eg. Infarction  as cells are swollen by it Few Malignancies

 Numbers of the cells e.g. Tumors has Low cellularity
 Viscosity of extracellular Fluid e.g. Abscess Ex. Cordoma

By A. M. Abodahab
SUMMARY OF MRI PHYSICS

Most Essential Sequence For Every Scanned Organ of Part

Organ Sequence PLAIN Notes
Brain
Orbit T1 Fat suppressed Axial
Pre & Post Contrast
Sella Coronal
Larynx Fat suppression Axial & Sagital
Pre & Post Contrast
Chest T2 To differ Mass from consolidation
Assess chest wall invasion
Knee PD Sagital FOV 16
Hip T1 & STIR Coronal FOV 30 : 42 cm
Ankle T1, T2 , Gradient & Axial , Sagital & FOV 8 cm
STIR Coronal
Shoulder T1, T2, PD Coronal Oplique
Elbow
Wrist FOV 8 : 12

Infarction Diffusion DWI Fastest sequence to detect

infarction
ADD YOUR

SOURCES
- BASIC MRI LECTURES – Eng. AMR ELGHORAB
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBD0BE7368C961619

- MRI Physics By Dr. Hany A. Amer

https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fptop.only.wip.la%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%
3Fv%3DetT6U79fs8U&h=kAQG3MwsK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf5oX01bRgk

- Introductory NMR & MRI by Paul Callaghan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aRKAXD4dAg&list=PLB787BD679BAAEC2E
- DIFFUSION WEIGHTED MRI - PROF DR OSAMA ABD-ELWADOOD

MyM.
By A. BestAbodahab
Wishes
A.M.Abodahab
21 Mar 2020