MRI Imaging Overview

NMR Basic Principles

- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR): A technique to observe local magnetic fields around
atomic nuclei.

- Principle: Nuclei in a magnetic field absorb and re-emit electromagnetic radiation. This
energy is at a specific resonance frequency, known as the Larmor frequency.

- Main Components:

- Magnetic Field (B0): Aligns the nuclear spins.

- Radiofrequency Pulse (RF Pulse): Perturbs the alignment of nuclear spins.

- Detection: Measures the emitted signal as the nuclei relax back to their equilibrium state.

MRI Principles
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Utilizes NMR to create detailed images of the inside of
the body.

- Absorption and emission of energy, in RF range.

Spin

 MR-active elements: Interact with external magnetic field (odd mass number)

- Echo Time (TE): Amount of time waiting after excitation to measure signal

- Repetition Time (TR): Amount of time between excitations.

Components:
- Strong Magnetic Field (B0): Aligns hydrogen protons in the body.

- Gradient Coils: Modify the main magnetic field, allowing spatial encoding of the MRI
signal.

- RF Coils: Transmit RF pulses and receive the MR signal.

Larmor Equation
- Equation: ω0 = γB0

- Variables:
 - ω0: Larmor frequency.

- γ: Gyromagnetic ratio (specific to each nucleus) (MHz T^-1).

- B0: Magnetic field strength.

- Significance: Determines the frequency at which the nuclei resonate and is crucial for MR
imaging and spectroscopy.

Spin
- Spins are either up(parallel to B0; low Energy level) or down (antiparallel to B0; high
energy level). Energy between both states: ∆E= γB0h=w0h
+¿
N
- Ratio of high/low energy spins (at thermal equilibrim): −∆ E
¿
−¿ T kB
N =e ¿

- RF pulses at Larmor frequency deliver energy that displaces M0 from B0.

- RF pulses ensure the spins are in phase (coherent) as it aligns the spins.

- Spins de-phase during relaxation. De-phasing occurs because the protons are influenced
by the magnetic field of neighbouring protons, which changes the frequency. Only coherent
protons yield strong enough signal to be detected.

Inhomogeneity
∆w=γ ∆B

Example: Let ∆B=10-6 T and γ=267.5 * 106 rad/T

∆w=γ ∆B= 267.5 rad/s

∆ϕ=∆w*τ

Where ∆ϕ is the phase difference and τ is the time to get out of phase. We can calculate τ as
∆ϕ=180º= π rad when out of phase.

τ=11.7 ms

Inhomogeneity has massive effects in coherence (T2).

Relaxation Processes (T1 and T2)

T1 (Longitudinal) Relaxation
- T1: Recovery of longitudinal magnetization after an RF pulse. Spin-lattice relaxation time
constant.
- Weighted T1: Images highlight fat due to its shorter T1. It is dictated by TR. The quickest
the realignment of the proton, the sharpest the curve of T1W.

- Benefits: High contrast for anatomical structures.

- Disadvantages: Longer scan times.

T2 (Transverse) Relaxation
- T2: Decay of transverse magnetization due to spin-spin interactions. It is related to
coherence.

- Weighted T2: Images highlight fluids due to longer T2. It depends on TE.

- Benefits: Clear images of pathology (e.g., edema).

- Disadvantages: More susceptible to motion artifacts.

T2* (Effective Transverse) Relaxation

- T2*: T2 decay plus additional dephasing due to magnetic field inhomogeneities. All T2*
tissue responses are similar due to inhomogeneities.

- Weighted T2*: Enhances differences in magnetic susceptibility.

- Benefits: Sensitive to changes in magnetic environment.

- Disadvantages: More prone to artifacts from field inhomogeneities.

T1 T2 T1c T2c
Water Slow Slow Dark Bright
Fat Fast Fast Bright Dark

Gradients
1. Slice Selection
- Purpose: Selects a specific slice of the tissue to image.

- Slices are selected by applying a gradient at the same time as RF pulse excitation.

- Slice thickness altered by:

- Slope of gradient: - Steep for thin slices

- Shallow for thick slices

- Changing transmit bandwith

New frequency:

ω = γB0+ γGz

2. Phase Encoding
- Purpose: Provides spatial information in one direction.

- Method: Apply a gradient to vary the phase of spins along one axis before the signal is
read.

- Steepness of gradient determines spatial resolution along phase axis.

3. Frequency Encoding
- Purpose: Provides spatial information in the orthogonal direction to phase encoding.

- Method: Apply a gradient while reading the signal, encoding spatial information as
frequency variations.

Amplitude of frequency encoding gradient determines size Field of View (FOV) in frequency
encoding axis. Small FOV  Steep gradient

k-Space
- Concept: A matrix where the MRI signal data is stored, representing spatial frequencies.

- Every datapoint has information about the entire image

- Structure:

- Central k-Space: Contains low spatial resolution (overall structure). High amplitude.

- Outer k-Space: Contains high spatial resolution (fine details). Low amplitude.

-Lines:

- Central: Contains low spatial resolution. Shallow phase-encoding gradient slopes.

 - Outer: Contains high spatial resolution. Steep phase-encoding gradient slopes.

- Sampling window: how long to acquire data. Frequency-encoding gradient switched on.

- Digital sampling frequency: How often system samples frequencies during sampling
window. Nyquist frequency: sampling frequency = 2* max frequency.

- Frequency matrix: How many datapoints to collect during sampling window.

- Data Collection: Sequential filling of k-space lines during the scan.

- Scan time function of:

- Repetition time (TR)

- Phase matrix

- Number of signal acquisitions (NSA)

Spin Echo and Dual Spin Echo

Spin Echo
- Sequence: 90° RF pulse followed by a 180° RF pulse.

- Purpose: Refocuses dephasing spins to create an echo signal.

- Use: T1, T2, and proton density imaging.

Dual Spin Echo
- Sequence: Initial 90° pulse, followed by two 180° refocusing pulses.

- Purpose: Provides two echoes, useful for different contrasts (e.g., T2 and proton density).

- Use: Simultaneous acquisition of T2-weighted and proton density images.

Signal to Noise Ratio Proportionalities

Applications

fMRI (Functional MRI)

- Purpose: Measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

- Method: Utilizes Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) contrast.

- Benefits: Non-invasive, real-time brain activity mapping.

- Limitations: Poor temporal resolution, indirect measure of neural activity.

Diffusion MRI
- Purpose: Maps the diffusion of water molecules in tissue.

- Method: Applies diffusion gradients to detect restricted water movement.

- Benefits: Early detection of stroke, characterization of tissue microstructure.

- Limitations: Sensitive to motion artifacts, complex interpretation.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
- Purpose: Visualizes white matter tracts and measures anisotropic diffusion.

- Method: Applies diffusion gradients in multiple directions, constructs diffusion tensors.

- Benefits: Detailed mapping of brain connectivity, useful in neurological conditions.

- Limitations: Requires complex post-processing, sensitive to motion artifacts.

Safety
- **Static Magnetic Fields**: Strong magnets can attract ferromagnetic objects, posing a
projectile risk.

- **RF Fields**: Can cause heating of tissues; specific absorption rate (SAR) limits are set for
safety.

- **Gradient Fields**: Rapid switching can induce currents in the body, potentially causing
nerve stimulation.

- **Implants and Devices**: Patients with pacemakers or certain implants must be carefully
screened.

Steps of MRI Imaging

1. **Patient Preparation**: Screening for contraindications (metal implants, pacemakers),
patient positioning.

2. **Localization**: Initial scans to locate the region of interest.

3. **Parameter Selection**: Choosing appropriate imaging parameters (TR, TE, flip angle)
for the desired contrast.

4. **Imaging Sequence**: Running the chosen MRI sequence to collect data.

5. **Data Collection**: Filling k-space with acquired signal data.

6. **Image Reconstruction**: Applying Fourier transform to k-space data to generate

images.

7. **Post-Processing**: Enhancing image quality and analyzing results.

8. **Review and Diagnosis**: Radiologists interpret the images to provide a diagnosis.