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How MRI Works: A Guide to Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- 1. MRI By: P.J. Samotus
- 2. MRI Many people do not fully understand how MRI really works. But most can agree that the images they create are amazing.
- 3. What is MRI MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and is achieved by creating powerful magnetic fields that react with hydrogen atoms in the human body.
- 4. Parts of a MRI Coil Table Gradient Magnets
- 5. Gradient Magnets Gradient magnets are used to alter the magnetic field. This creates different axis that a MRI can image in.
- 6. Coils Permanent magnets: These Magnets are huge and hard to work with because they are always “on”. Resistive magnets: Use huge amount of electricity to run because of the natural resistance to the wire. Super conducting: This is the most commonly used MRI machine. They are similar to resistive magnets but use liquid helium to cool the wire to reduce the coil resistance to almost zero
- 7. How MRI Works High amounts of electricity are passed through the MRI coils creating a powerful magnetic field. This magnetic field aligns the hydrogen atoms in patient.
- 8. How MRI Works Continued Now that the hydrogen atoms are aligned. The machine emits a radio frequency that alters the spin of the hydrogen atom. When the atom returns to the spin of the magnetic field it gives off the extra energy.
- 9. Receiving Data The energy that is given of by the atom is mathematically computed by the Fourier transformer and can now be represented in a visual way.
- 10. Applications of MRI Diagnostic Experimental Tissue other than bone
- 11. Exciting Experimenting MRI allows scientist to view the mind in action. By using brain mapping, scientist can look at the brain as it is completing tasks such as looking at images or squeezing a ball.
- 12. Ventilation Dynamics of Lungs New research on how lungs work is now being done with MRI machines. The machine can detect hyperpolarized helium-3 gas as it moves through the lung.
- 13. Advantages Crisp Images Zero radiation Can Image in any plane
- 14. Disadvantages Long time in machine Claustrophobic Distorted image Safety precautions Expensive
- 15. Future of MRI More open machines Smaller machines More efficient
- 16. Works cited Title slide photo http://www.dipl.rad.med.umich.edu/dipl/dipl-gallery/images/head.coil.color.gif Body photo:http://www.radiologyinfo.ca/utilisateur/images/16_mri_body_b.jpg MRI: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/medther/tayendoweb/images/mriscnr.jpg Neck image: http://www.jurewitz.com/upload/Neck_MRI.jpg Math: http://math.fullerton.edu/mathews/c2003/fouriertransform/FourierTransformMod/Images/FourierTransformMod_gr_52.gif Knee: http://blog.remakehealth.com/Portals/11143/images//knee_mri_picture.jpg Sliced bread: http://slicedbreadmag.com/storage/Sliced%20Bread.JPG Claustrophobia: http://thatsathought.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/claustrophobia.jpg Wrist MRI: http://www.medgadget.com/archives/img/mri_mayo_coil.jpg Brain mapping: http://interactive.usc.edu/members/doox/archives/img/MappingTheMindBookCover.jpg Information gathered from: http://health.howstuffworks.com/mri11.htm http://health.ucsd.edu/error.html?aspxerrorpath=/CmsHealth/Templates/SpecialtiesandPrograms/specialties_level3.aspx http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_2D3Lh1v74
Editor's Notes
- MRI is a relativley new technology and has only been used widely for about twenty years unlike x-rays that have been used for almost one hundred years. The First MRI image captured was on July 3rd 1977
- This is a short video describing the basic concepts of a MRI machine that I will be talking about through my presentation.
- Exactly how the MRI machine works will be discussed later in the presentation.
- MRI resemble a long tube with a bore down the middle for the patient to lay in. The patient lays on the table which is then moved into the MRI machine. Coils of wire in circle the hole creating the magnetic field when high amounts of electricity is created.
- The different magnets are all pretty common but the super conducting is the most useful. It uses less electricity to run but the initial cost is high. All must be used safely because they are all super powerful.
- Hydrogen atoms are targeted because they have a high amount of movement due to their one proton.
- This is the movement that is registered by the MRI
- As you can see, there is a lot of math involved to create these highly detailed images.
- MRI is used in a variety of fields both experimental and for diagnostic purposes. One of the major advantages of a MRI is to be able to show other tissue than bone.
- The brain is a very complicated organ and this research is constantly going on. The brain is one of the many wonders of a human being.
- Using a MRI is one of the only ways to view a lung in operation with patient still being living making it more realistic.
- For many the fact that no radiation will be received during the operation is comforting. Also the images are so detailed that it helps to make the doctors job much easier. Unlike a CAT scan, MRI can image in any plane. CAT scans can only image in a “sliced bread” sections while MRI can image any where in between with the use of gradient magnets.
- How ever there are a couple disadvantages using a MRI machine. For one the machines are very expensive to purchase and run. MRIs use a lot of electricity to create the magnetic field producing the image. Many people are claustrophobic and do not like being confined for long periods of time. Unfortunately, these machines may be intimidating for many of these people and do make loud noises during operation because of the high amount of electricity running through the coils. Another disadvantage of a MRI machine is that the patients have to hold very still while the image is being captured. The time of the imaging can range from twenty to ninety minutes or more. This may be difficult for young children or nervous patience. Orthopedic hardware also affects the image of a MRI. Metal objects can greatly distort the magnetic field and makes the images look like nonsense.
- The outlook for MRI is very optimistic. Open machines will be able to be used making patients feel more comfortable. Also are specific scanners are being created like the one seen in the image. This is much more convenient than a big bulky machine.