CT and MRI physics

course
Mr. Saddam Alzofi

B.Sc. in Rad. Technology (SUST)

M.Sc. in Medical Diagnostic imaging(UMST)

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 2
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

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 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

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 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

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 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.

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 Conventional Computerized
6
Tomography image Tomography image

Prepared by saddam alzofi

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.

Prepared by saddam alzofi

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?

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 11
CT generations
First Generation CT :
 Moving in translate-rotate configuration.

 Pencil- shaped beam.

 Single detector ( NaI ).

 5- min scan time

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 12
2nd generation
• Fan Beam

• Array of detectors

• Translate and rotate

• Fewer view angles

• Scan time 30 sec

Prepared by saddam alzofi
 13 3rd generation scanner
Rotate – rotate configuration.
 Fan shaped-beam.
Detector array.
3-5 sec.scan time.
 Disadvantage: ring artifacts

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 14 4th generator scanner

Rotate-stationary configuration

Fan shaped beam

Detector array

1sec scan time

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 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.

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 Conventional (Non-spiral) CT
16
 Tube rotates once around patient
 Table stationary
 data for one slice collected
 Table increments one slice thickness
 Repeat
 Tube rotates opposite direction

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 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

Prepared by saddam alzofi

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.
20
21
 22 System Components of CT

The main components of CT are:

Scanner
 GANTRY

 TABLE

Operating console.

Prepared by saddam alzofi

23
Component of CT

Scanner

Operating console
Gantry

Table

24
 25
Gantry assembly

A. X-ray tube

B. Collimators and filters
C. Detectors:
Scintillation crystals
Gas filled detectors.

Prepared by saddam alzofi

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 .

 27
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

Prepared by saddam alzofi

28
 29
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.

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 30
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

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 31

Types of detectors

1
•Gas-filled detectors

2
•Scintillation detectors

Prepared by saddam alzofi

32

Detectors

Scintillation detectors Gas-filled detectors

 33
Properties of detectors

1
•Capture efficiency

2
•Conversion efficiency

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 34
• 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 %.

Prepared by saddam alzofi
35
 36
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 .

Prepared by saddam alzofi

 37
Computer

Reconstruction and post processing

Control of all scanner components

Control of data acquisition, processing, display.

Prepared by saddam alzofi

38