MRI BASIC PRINCIPLES AND SCAN PARAMETERS

INTRODUCTION:
• What is the meaning of MRI.
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
A 3D medical radio diagnoses machine use the NMR phenomenon
(nuclear Magnetic Resonance) to create a tomographic Images for the body.
• Very strong magnetic field, Radio frequency signals, computer for images
reconstruction.
Difference between MRI and CT
CT MRI
Radiation Ionizing radiation Non ionizing radiation
(X-Ray) (RF signals)
Acquisition Time Short time Long time
Resolution High resolution Less resolution
Tissue contrast Low tissue contrast High tissue contrast
Dynamic imaging Easy with high Easy with no radiation
radiation exposure exposure
Patient positioning Easy difficult
Motion sensitivity sensitive very sensitive
Device noise Low noise High noise
Recommended for: Bones, chest and Brain, spinal cord ,
abdomen, Angio Joints, soft tissue
Difference between MRI and CT
Advantage of MRI:
• Not use the Ionizing radiation.
• Fast and easy angiography study without contrast.
• Advanced techniques such as:
Diffusion, spectroscopy, CSF flowmetry, and cardiac imaging.
• Functional MRI of the brain: To see the active part of the brain
during certain activity.
Disadvantage of MRI:
• Claustrophobia.
• Limited patient size according to the core of the magnet.
• High cost study.
• Not for Patients with pacemaker, implanted medical devices, brain coil,
metal prosthesis at the site of the study.
MRI patient preparation and precautions:
• Patient must be conscious, stable, and co-operative.
• Patient must remove any metal objects, electronic devices, and credit
cards.
• Patients with pacemaker, cochlea implants, electronic shunt, and brain
coils not allowed to enter the MRI Machine.
• Patients which have artificial prosthesis at the site of the study will affect
the images quality and produce non diagnostic images.
• Patients how will have a MRI study with contrast must do kidney function
test GFR.
• Patients asked to be fasting for some MRI Studies.
• Patients safety first.
MRI patient preparation and precautions:
• Patient must be conscious, stable, and co-operative.
• Patient must remove any metal objects, electronic devices, and credit
cards.
• Patients with pacemaker, cochlea implants, electronic shunt, and brain
coils not allowed to enter the MRI Machine.
• Patients which have artificial prosthesis at the site of the study will affect
the images quality and produce non diagnostic images.
• Patients how will have a MRI study with contrast must do kidney function
test GFR.
• Patients asked to be fasting for some MRI Studies.
• Patients safety first.
 MRI device main components:

• Magnet.
• Gradient coil.
• Radiofrequency coils.
• Patient table.
• computers (acquisition station
and work station).
• Cooling system.
MRI magnet:

• Open magnet.
MRI magnet:

• Closed magnet.
MRI magnet:

• Extremity MRI.
 Gradient coils:
• Gradient coils are set of three coils X, Y, and Z-
Axis, they used to generate additional
magnetic fields which added or subtracted
from the main magnetic field.
• These additional magnetic fields to make the
field inhomogeneous along the z-direction.
• Protons of patient body at different positions
exposed to magnetic field of different strength
and precession frequency.
• This made each slice position defended by a
certain frequency (center frequency) of the
applied RF signal.
 Gradient coils:
• Strong gradient can produce
thinner slice thickness.
• Weak gradient can produce thicker
slice thickness
MRI Cooling System:
Transmitter and Receiver RF coils:
MRI main Physical principles:
• MRI(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) depend on
the NMR(Nuclear Magnetic Resonance)
Phenomenon.
• Any charged particles moves in a space or
Rotate Around them selves produce a
magnetic field.
• A nucleus with odd mass number will have a
magnetic properties, but a nucleus with even
mass number will not.
• Hydrogen atoms are the most suitable atoms
for the MRI because of there present in water
and human body and high sensitivity to
magnetic field
MRI main Physical principles:
MRI main Physical principles:
How the MRI signals Produced
MRI main Physical principles:
• The RF pulses transmitted to the body
characterized by to factors:
• TR (Repetition Time):
It is the time between two excitation.
They affect the length of relaxation period.
• TE ( Echo Time):
It is the time between the RF Excitation pulse and
collection of signal
MRI main Physical principles:
MRI main Physical principles:
Relaxation processes: (T1 longitudinal relaxation)
MRI main Physical principles:
Relaxation processes: (T1 longitudinal relaxation)
MRI main Physical principles:
Relaxation processes: (T1 longitudinal relaxation)
MRI main Physical principles:
Relaxation processes: (T2 transverse relaxation)
• T2 is the time for the magnetization vector to
decay to 37% of its initial magnitude.
• T2 also known as spin-spin relaxation.
MRI main Physical principles:
Relaxation processes: (T2 transverse relaxation)
(T1 WI, T2 WI)
• NOTE:
Application of the 90 deg RF pulse
at the null point lead to signal
suppression of a chosen tissue.
• IN STIR sequence a short time inversion recovery TI is
allowed for the tissue to relax
• Then a 90 deg pulse is given at the end of TI(null point of
fat)
• Then a 180 deg refocusing pulse is given and a max signal
from tissue received.
• IN FLAIR sequence a LONG time inversion recovery TI is
allowed.
• Then a 90 deg pulse is given at the end of TI(null point of
water)
• Then a 180 deg refocusing pulse is given and a max signal
from tissue received.
(ADC)
MRI Image reconstruction
MRI Image reconstruction
MRI Image reconstruction
MRI Image Quality
MRI Image Quality
MRI Image Artifact
MRI Image Artifact:
Slice overlap/interference
•Protons in the overlapped areas
receive double, triple, or higher levels
of RF-irradiation than those in single
slices.
•The solution:
not to overlap the slices in a single
acquisition