BasicPhysicalPrinciplesofMRI-BIAC.pptVIP

Basic Physical Principlesof MRI Synopsis of MRI 1) Put subject in big magnetic field 2) Transmit radio waves into subject [2~10 ms] 3) Turn off radio wave transmitter 4) Receive radio waves re-transmitted by subject0 5) Convert measured RF data to image Many factors contribute to MR imaging Quantum properties of nuclear spins Radio frequency (RF) excitation properties Tissue relaxation properties Magnetic field strength and gradients Timing of gradients, RF pulses, and signal detection What kinds of nuclei can be used for NMR? Nucleus needs to have 2 properties: Spin charge Nuclei are made of protons and neutrons Both have spin ? Protons have charge Pairs of spins tend to cancel, so only atoms with an odd number of protons or neutrons have spin Good MR nuclei are 1H, 13C, 19F, 23Na, 31P Hydrogen atoms are best for MRI Biological tissues are predominantly 12C, 16O, 1H, and 14N Hydrogen atom is the only major species that is MR sensitive Hydrogen is the most abundant atom in the body The majority of hydrogen is in water (H2O) Essentially all MRI is hydrogen (proton) imaging Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Visible Nuclei A Single Proton How do protons interact with a magnetic field? Moving (spinning) charged particle generates its own little magnetic field Such particles will tend to line up with external magnetic field lines (think of iron filings around a magnet) Spinning particles with mass have angular momentum Angular momentum resists attempts to change the spin orientation (think of a gyroscope) Resonance frequencies of common nuclei MRI uses a combination of Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields NMR measures the net magnetization of atomic nuclei in the presence of magnetic fields Magnetization can be manipulated by changing the magnetic field environment (static, gradient, and RF fields) Static magnetic fields don’t change ( 0.1 ppm / hr): The main field is static and (nearly) homogeneous RF (radio frequency) fields are electromagnetic fields that osci