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12 MRI Basics

This document discusses the basics of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It describes how MRI works by using strong magnets to align hydrogen atoms in the body and radiofrequency pulses to alter the alignment. When the atoms return to equilibrium, they emit radio signals that are used to construct images. The document outlines the key components of MRI machines and explains the advantages of MRI, such as its use of non-ionizing radiation and ability to provide different types of image contrast.

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Ioseb Chekirbeili
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
43 views

12 MRI Basics

This document discusses the basics of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It describes how MRI works by using strong magnets to align hydrogen atoms in the body and radiofrequency pulses to alter the alignment. When the atoms return to equilibrium, they emit radio signals that are used to construct images. The document outlines the key components of MRI machines and explains the advantages of MRI, such as its use of non-ionizing radiation and ability to provide different types of image contrast.

Uploaded by

Ioseb Chekirbeili
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Tbilisi State

Medical University
Chair of Radiology
Ultrasound Education Centre
“GEOJEFF”
Malkhaz Mizandari MD, PhD
Professor of Radiology
Physical Basics of NMR

(MRI)
The Idea of Application of Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance Phenomenon
to get the Image of Human Body
Belongs to prof. Pol Lauterbur
(USA) - 1973
The Name

NMR

MRI
MRI - the Youngest of
Diagnostic Modalities

 The Most Expensive


 Technically More
Complicated
 Harder to Understand
Theoretically
The Basic Components of
MRI Equipment

 Strong Magnet
 Generator of RF pulse
 Receiver Coil
 Strong Computer
MRI - is a Revolution in
Many Fields of Radiology

Why?
Advantages of MRI
 No Ionizing Radiation
 Air and Bones are not a Hindrance
for Visualization
 A Lot of Criteria for Image Contrast
can be Used (Proton Density, T1
and T2 Relaxation Times)
 Possibility of In-Vivo NMR
Spectroscopy
All the Chemical
Elements Consist
Of Atoms

All the Atoms Have the Nucleus (Protons


and Neutrons) and Electrons, moving on
the Orbits
Quantum Physics

Classical Physics
The Simplest Nucleus - Hydrogen

Advantages
The Most Common Element
Found in Human Body

The Highest Sensitivity for


Magnetic Resonance
SPIN - inherent Rotation of
the particle about its axis

The Spin of Billiard Ball

The Rotation of a Top

The Rotation of the Earth about


its axis
Although the Spin is Quantum Mechanics
par excellence, to simplify the explanation
we can imagine it as a tiny Bar Magnet
with “north” and “south” pole.
Spin Magnetism is
a VECTOR quantity
The Resulting Spin
Spin Ensemble without an
External Magnetic Field

Net Magnetization is Zero


Three Dimensional Coordinate System
Z Axis always oriented in the Direction
of External Magnetic Field
Magnetization
Net magnetization of the probe
is represented by vector M
Number of Excess Spins
 Increases with Proton Density
 Increases with Strength of External
Magnetic Field
 Decreases when Temperature Increases

The unit of Magnetic Field Strength


is Tesla (1 Tesla is approximately
20 000 times stronger than the Earth’s
magnetic field )
Precession
The characteristic frequency
of spin precession - Larmor
frequency -one of the
essentials in magnetic
resonance

 The Type of Nucleus


 The Strength of Applied
Magnetic Field
The Precession frequency
(Larmor Frequency)
Falls In range of Radiofrequency

We can receive signals from


the precessing spin magnets
the same way as we receive
Radio signals!
Break
10 min
How do we
get the MR
signal?
Flip angle
90 and 180 degrees Flip Angles
Transverse Magnetization (Mxy) generates an
electric voltage in Receiver Coil - MR signal
Electromagnetic Induction
FID - Free Induction Decay
Acoustic Analogy of FID
MR Signal is Described by
Amplitude
Frequency
Phase
Random Phase Orientation

Mxy = 0

Phase Coherence

Mxy gets
a magnitude
Summary
The Spin Ensemble is Deflected from
Equilibrium by the Applied RF Pulse

After the 90 RF Pulse is Turned off, the


full Magnetization Precesses in X-Y Plane
The Rotating Transverse Magnetization
Generates the MR Signal
MR Signal Decays and
Longitudinal Magnetization
(Mz) Recovers after the Brief
Period of Time

This Physical Recovery process


is known as
RELAXATION
Relaxation Types
 Longitudinal or Spin-Lattice
Relaxation (Spin-Lattice
Interaction)
 Transverse or Spin-Spin
Relaxation (Spin-Spin)
Interaction
Spin-Lattice Relaxation is the
Process of Mz Recovery
Spin-Spin Relaxation is the
Process of Mxy Decay
RELAXATION is the Exponential Process

The Exponential Process is expressed


by its TIME CONSTANT
Time Constant Describes the Regrowth
of Mz over time and its return to
Equilibrium Following RF pulse
Transverse Relaxation
Transverse Magnetization (Mxy) Decay
The High Sensitivity of MR Imaging
is Based on the Difference between
the Relaxation Constants T1 and T2
of Healthy and Pathological Tissues

To a Lesser Degree this Applies


to the Proton Density as well
TR - RF Pulse Repetition Time

TE - Echo Time
Using Different TR and TE
We Can Obtain Three Types
of Contrast
T1 - WEIGHTED IMAGE

T2 - WEIGHTED IMAGE

PROTON DENSITY IMAGE


PD Weighted T2 Weighted T1 Weighted
Long TR Long TR Short TR
Short TE Long TE Short TE
Contrast Agents in MRI
The Most of MRI Contrast Agents are
Paramagnetics and Supermagnetics

MRI Contrast Agents Change


T1 and T2 of Tissues
Pre- Post
Contr. Contr.
MRI MRI
In-Vivo MR Spectroscopy
ISIS
Image Selected in vivo
Spectroscopy
Any Questions?

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