# Physics of magnetic resonance imaging

Modern 3 tesla clinical MRI scanner.

The physics of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) involves the interaction of biological tissue with electromagnetic fields. MRI is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to investigate the anatomy and physiology of the body. The human body is largely composed of water molecules, each containing two hydrogen nuclei, or protons. When inside the magnetic field (B0) of the scanner, the magnetic moments of these protons align with the direction of the field. They may align in two configurations parallel (in the direction of B0), or anti-parallel opposing B0. While each individual proton can only have one of two alignments the collection of protons appear to behave as though they can have any alignment. More protons align parallel to B0 as this is a lower energy state.

A radio frequency pulse is then applied, which can excite protons from parallel to anti-parallel alignment, only these protons are relevant to the rest of the discussion. In response to the force bringing them back to their equilibrium orientation, the protons undergo a rotating motion (precession), much like a spin wheel under the effect of gravity. The protons will return to the low energy state and do so by emitting photons corresponding to the energy difference between the two possible alignments. This appears as a magnetic flux, which yields a changing voltage in receiver coils to give the signal. The frequency at which a proton or group of protons in a voxel resonates depends on the strength of the local magnetic field around the proton or group of protons, a stronger field corresponds to a larger energy difference and higher frequency photons. By applying additional magnetic fields (gradients) that vary linearly over space, specific slices to be imaged can be selected, and an image is obtained by taking the 2-D Fourier transform of the spatial frequencies of the signal (a.k.a., k-space). Due to the magnetic Lorentz force from B0 on the current flowing in the gradient coils, the gradient coils will try to move. The knocking sounds heard during an MRI scan are the result of the gradient coils trying to move against the constraint of the concrete or epoxy in which they are secured. These sounds can be very unnerving to the patient, particularly given the tight space in which the patient lies. This behaviour of MRI scanners can be described in terms of a fully coupled acousto-magneto-mechanical system.[1] Solutions to such systems can provide useful insight for design engineers.

Diseased tissue, such as tumors, can be detected because the protons in different tissues return to their equilibrium state at different rates (i.e., they have different relaxation times). By changing the parameters on the scanner this effect is used to create contrast between different types of body tissue.

Contrast agents may be injected intravenously to enhance the appearance of blood vessels, tumors or inflammation. Contrast agents may also be directly injected into a joint in the case of arthrograms, MRI images of joints. Unlike CT, MRI uses no ionizing radiation and is generally a very safe procedure. Patients with some metal implants, cochlear implants, and cardiac pacemakers are prevented from having an MRI scan due to effects of the strong magnetic field and powerful radio frequency pulses unless the device they carry is labeled MR-Conditional.[2]

MRI is used to image every part of the body, and is particularly useful for neurological conditions, for disorders of the muscles and joints, for evaluating tumors, and for showing abnormalities in the heart and blood vessels.

## Nuclear magnetism

Subatomic particles have the quantum mechanical property of spin.[3] Certain nuclei such as 1H (protons), 2H, 3He, 23Na or 31P, have a non–zero spin and therefore a magnetic moment. In the case of the so-called spin-​12 nuclei, such as 1H, there are two spin states, sometimes referred to as up and down. Nuclei such as 12C have no unpaired neutrons or protons, and no net spin; however, the isotope 13C does.

When these spins are placed in a strong external magnetic field they precess around an axis along the direction of the field. Protons align in two energy eigenstates (the Zeeman effect): one low-energy and one high-energy, which are separated by a very small splitting energy.

### Resonance and relaxation

Quantum mechanics is required to accurately model the behaviour of a single proton, however classical mechanics can be used to describe the behaviour of the ensemble of protons adequately. As with other spin ${\displaystyle 1/2}$ particles, whenever the spin of a single proton is measured it can only have one of two results commonly called parallel and anti-parallel. When we discuss the state of a proton or protons we are referring to the wavefunction of that proton which is a linear combination of the parallel and anti-parallel states.

In the presence of the magnetic field, B0, the protons will appear to precess at the Larmor frequency determined by the particle's gyro-magnetic ratio and the strength of the field. The static fields used most commonly in MRI cause precession which corresponds to a radiowave photon.

The net longitudinal magnetization in thermodynamical equilibrium is due to a tiny excess of protons in the lower energy state. This gives a net polarization that is parallel to the external field. Application of a radio frequency (RF) pulse can tip this net polarization vector sideways (with, i.e., a so-called 90° pulse), or even reverse it (with a so-called 180° pulse). The protons will come into phase with the RF pulse and therefore each other.

The recovery of longitudinal magnetization is called longitudinal or T1 relaxation and occurs exponentially with a time constant T1. The loss of phase coherence in the transverse plane is called transverse or T2 relaxation. T1 is thus associated with the enthalpy of the spin system, or the number of nuclei with parallel versus anti-parallel spin. T2 on the other hand is associated with the entropy of the system, or the number of nuclei in phase.

When the radio frequency pulse is turned off, the transverse vector component produces an oscillating magnetic field which induces a small current in the receiver coil. This signal is called the free induction decay (FID). In an idealized nuclear magnetic resonance experiment, the FID decays approximately exponentially with a time constant T2. However, in practical MRI there are small differences in the static magnetic field at different spatial locations ("inhomogeneities") that cause the Larmor frequency to vary across the body. This creates destructive interference, which shortens the FID. The time constant for the observed decay of the FID is called the T*
2
relaxation time, and is always shorter than T2. At the same time, the longitudinal magnetization starts to recover exponentially with a time constant T1 which is much larger than T2 (see below).

In MRI, the static magnetic field is caused to vary across the body (by using a field gradient), so that different spatial locations become associated with different precession frequencies. Usually these field gradients are pulsed, and it is the almost infinite variety of RF and gradient pulse sequences that gives MRI its versatility. Application of field gradient destroys the FID signal, but this can be recovered and measured by a refocusing gradient (to create a so-called "gradient echo"), or by a radio frequency pulse (to create a so-called "spin-echo"). The whole process can be repeated when some T1-relaxation has occurred and the thermal equilibrium of the spins has been more or less restored. The repetition time (TR) is the time between two successive excitations of the same slice.[4]

Typically, in soft tissues T1 is around one second while T2 and T*
2
are a few tens of milliseconds. However, these values can vary widely between different tissues, as well as between different external magnetic fields. This behavior is one factor giving MRI its tremendous soft tissue contrast.

MRI contrast agents, such as those containing Gadolinium(III) work by altering (shortening) the relaxation parameters, especially T1.

## Imaging

### Imaging schemes

A number of schemes have been devised for combining field gradients and radio frequency excitation to create an image:

• 2D or 3D reconstruction from projections, such as in computed tomography.
• Building the image point-by-point or line-by-line.
• Gradients in the RF field rather than the static field.

Although each of these schemes is occasionally used in specialist applications, the majority of MR Images today are created either by the two-dimensional Fourier transform (2DFT) technique with slice selection, or by the three-dimensional Fourier transform (3DFT) technique. Another name for 2DFT is spin-warp. What follows here is a description of the 2DFT technique with slice selection.

The 3DFT technique is rather similar except that there is no slice selection and phase-encoding is performed in two separate directions.

#### Echo-planar imaging

Another scheme which is sometimes used, especially in brain scanning or where images are needed very rapidly, is called echo-planar imaging (EPI):[5] In this case, each RF excitation is followed by a train of gradient echoes with different spatial encoding. Multiplexed-EPI is even faster, e.g., for whole brain fMRI or diffusion MRI.[6]

### Image contrast and contrast enhancement

Image contrast is created by differences in the strength of the NMR signal recovered from different locations within the sample. This depends upon the relative density of excited nuclei (usually water protons), on differences in relaxation times (T1, T2, and T*
2
) of those nuclei after the pulse sequence, and often on other parameters discussed under specialized MR scans. Contrast in most MR images is actually a mixture of all these effects, but careful design of the imaging pulse sequence allows one contrast mechanism to be emphasized while the others are minimized. The ability to choose different contrast mechanisms gives MRI tremendous flexibility. In the brain, T1-weighting causes the nerve connections of white matter to appear white, and the congregations of neurons of gray matter to appear gray, while cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) appears dark. The contrast of white matter, gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid is reversed using T2 or T*
2
imaging, whereas proton-density-weighted imaging provides little contrast in healthy subjects. Additionally, functional parameters such as cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) or blood oxygenation can affect T1, T2, and T*
2
and so can be encoded with suitable pulse sequences.

In some situations it is not possible to generate enough image contrast to adequately show the anatomy or pathology of interest by adjusting the imaging parameters alone, in which case a contrast agent may be administered. This can be as simple as water, taken orally, for imaging the stomach and small bowel. However, most contrast agents used in MRI are selected for their specific magnetic properties. Most commonly, a paramagnetic contrast agent (usually a gadolinium compound[7][8]) is given. Gadolinium-enhanced tissues and fluids appear extremely bright on T1-weighted images. This provides high sensitivity for detection of vascular tissues (e.g., tumors) and permits assessment of brain perfusion (e.g., in stroke). There have been concerns raised recently regarding the toxicity of gadolinium-based contrast agents and their impact on persons with impaired kidney function. (See Safety/Contrast agents below.)

More recently, superparamagnetic contrast agents, e.g., iron oxide nanoparticles,[9][10] have become available. These agents appear very dark on T*
2
-weighted images and may be used for liver imaging, as normal liver tissue retains the agent, but abnormal areas (e.g., scars, tumors) do not. They can also be taken orally, to improve visualization of the gastrointestinal tract, and to prevent water in the gastrointestinal tract from obscuring other organs (e.g., the pancreas). Diamagnetic agents such as barium sulfate have also been studied for potential use in the gastrointestinal tract, but are less frequently used.

### k-space

In 1983, Ljunggren[11] and Twieg[12] independently introduced the k-space formalism, a technique that proved invaluable in unifying different MR imaging techniques. They showed that the demodulated MR signal S(t) generated by freely precessing nuclear spins in the presence of a linear magnetic field gradient G equals the Fourier transform of the effective spin density. Mathematically:

${\displaystyle S(t)={\tilde {\rho }}_{\mathrm {eff} }\left({\vec {k}}(t)\right)\equiv \int _{-\infty }^{\infty }\mathrm {d} {\vec {x}}\ \rho ({\vec {x}})\cdot e^{2\pi i\ {\vec {k}}(t)\cdot {\vec {x}}}}$

where:

${\displaystyle {\vec {k}}(t)\equiv \int _{0}^{t}{\vec {G}}(\tau )\ \mathrm {d} \tau }$

In other words, as time progresses the signal traces out a trajectory in k-space with the velocity vector of the trajectory proportional to the vector of the applied magnetic field gradient. By the term effective spin density we mean the true spin density ${\displaystyle \rho ({\vec {x}})}$ corrected for the effects of T1 preparation, T2 decay, dephasing due to field inhomogeneity, flow, diffusion, etc. and any other phenomena that affect that amount of transverse magnetization available to induce signal in the RF probe or its phase with respect to the receiving coil' s electromagnetic field.

From the basic k-space formula, it follows immediately that we reconstruct an image ${\displaystyle I({\vec {x}})}$ simply by taking the inverse Fourier transform of the sampled data, viz.

${\displaystyle I\left({\vec {x}}\right)=\int _{-\infty }^{\infty }\mathrm {d} {\vec {k}}\ S\left({\vec {k}}(t)\right)\cdot e^{-2\pi i\ {\vec {k}}(t)\cdot {\vec {x}}}}$

Using the k-space formalism, a number of seemingly complex ideas became simple. For example, it becomes very easy to understand the role of phase encoding (the so-called spin-warp method). In a standard spin echo or gradient echo scan, where the readout (or view) gradient is constant (e.g., G), a single line of k-space is scanned per RF excitation. When the phase encoding gradient is zero, the line scanned is the kx axis. When a non-zero phase-encoding pulse is added in between the RF excitation and the commencement of the readout gradient, this line moves up or down in k-space, i.e., we scan the line ky = constant.

The k-space formalism also makes it very easy to compare different scanning techniques. In single-shot EPI, all of k-space is scanned in a single shot, following either a sinusoidal or zig-zag trajectory. Since alternating lines of k-space are scanned in opposite directions, this must be taken into account in the reconstruction. Multi-shot EPI and fast spin echo techniques acquire only part of k-space per excitation. In each shot, a different interleaved segment is acquired, and the shots are repeated until k-space is sufficiently well-covered. Since the data at the center of k-space represent lower spatial frequencies than the data at the edges of k-space, the TE value for the center of k-space determines the image's T2 contrast.

The importance of the center of k-space in determining image contrast can be exploited in more advanced imaging techniques. One such technique is spiral acquisition—a rotating magnetic field gradient is applied, causing the trajectory in k-space to spiral out from the center to the edge. Due to T2 and T*
2
decay the signal is greatest at the start of the acquisition, hence acquiring the center of k-space first improves contrast to noise ratio (CNR) when compared to conventional zig-zag acquisitions, especially in the presence of rapid movement.

Since ${\displaystyle {\vec {x}}}$ and ${\displaystyle {\vec {k}}}$ are conjugate variables (with respect to the Fourier transform) we can use the Nyquist theorem to show that the step in k-space determines the field of view of the image (maximum frequency that is correctly sampled) and the maximum value of k sampled determines the resolution; i.e.,

${\displaystyle {\rm {FOV}}\propto {\frac {1}{\Delta k}}\qquad \mathrm {Resolution} \propto |k_{\max }|\ .}$

(These relationships apply to each axis independently.)

### Example of a pulse sequence

Simplified timing diagram for two-dimensional-Fourier-transform (2DFT) Spin Echo (SE) pulse sequence

The first part of the pulse sequence, SS, achieves "slice selection". A shaped pulse (shown here with a sinc modulation) causes a 90° nutation of longitudinal nuclear magnetization within a slab, or slice, creating transverse magnetization. The second part of the pulse sequence, PE, imparts a phase shift upon the slice-selected nuclear magnetization, varying with its location in the Y direction. The third part of the pulse sequence, another slice selection (of the same slice) uses another shaped pulse to cause a 180° rotation of transverse nuclear magnetization within the slice. This transverse magnetisation refocuses to form a spin echo at a time TE. During the spin echo, a frequency-encoding (FE) or readout gradient is applied, making the resonant frequency of the nuclear magnetization vary with its location in the X direction. The signal is sampled nFE times by the ADC during this period, as represented by the vertical lines. Typically nFE of between 128 and 512 samples are taken.

The longitudinal magnetisation is then allowed to recover somewhat and after a time TR the whole sequence is repeated nPE times, but with the phase-encoding gradient incremented (indicated by the horizontal hatching in the green gradient block). Typically nPE of between 128 and 512 repetitions are made.

The negative-going lobes in GX and GZ are imposed to ensure that, at time TE (the spin echo maximum), phase only encodes spatial location in the Y direction.

Typically TE is between 5 ms and 100 ms, while TR is between 100 ms and 2000 ms.

After the two-dimensional matrix (typical dimension between 128 × 128 and 512 × 512) has been acquired, producing the so-called k-space data, a two-dimensional inverse Fourier transform is performed to provide the familiar MR image. Either the magnitude or phase of the Fourier transform can be taken, the former being far more common.

### Overview of main sequences

edit
This table does not include uncommon and experimental sequences.

Group Sequence Abbr. Physics Main clinical distinctions Example
Spin echo T1 weighted T1 Measuring spin–lattice relaxation by using a short repetition time (TR) and echo time (TE)

Standard foundation and comparison for other sequences

T2 weighted T2 Measuring spin–spin relaxation by using long TR and TE times

Standard foundation and comparison for other sequences

Proton density weighted PD Long TR (to reduce T1) and short TE (to minimize T2)[15] Joint disease and injury.[16]
Gradient echo (GRE) Steady-state free precession SSFP Maintenance of a steady, residual transverse magnetisation over successive cycles.[18] Creation of cardiac MRI videos (pictured).[18]
Effective T2
or "T2-star"
T2* Postexcitation refocused GRE with small flip angle.[19] Low signal from hemosiderin deposits (pictured) and hemorrhages.[19]
Inversion recovery Short tau inversion recovery STIR Fat suppression by setting an inversion time where the signal of fat is zero[20] High signal in edema, such as in more severe stress fracture[21] Shin splints pictured:
Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery FLAIR Fluid suppression by setting an inversion time that nulls fluids High signal in lacunar infarction, multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques, subarachnoid haemorrhage and meningitis (pictured).[22]
Double inversion recovery DIR Simultaneous suppression of cerebrospinal fluid and white matter by two inversion times[23] High signal of multiple sclerosis plaques (pictured)[23]
Diffusion weighted (DWI) Conventional DWI Measure of Brownian motion of water molecules[24] High signal within minutes of cerebral infarction (pictured).[25]
Apparent diffusion coefficient ADC Reduced T2 weighting by taking multiple conventional DWI images with different DWI weighting, and the change corresponds to diffusion[26] Low signal minutes after cerebral infarction (pictured)[27]
Diffusion tensor DTI Mainly tractography (pictured) by an overall greater Brownian motion of water molecules in the directions of nerve fibers[28]
Perfusion weighted (PWI) Dynamic susceptibility contrast DSC Gadolinium contrast is injected, and rapid repeated imaging (generally gradient-echo echo-planar T2 weighted) quantifies susceptibility-induced signal loss[30] In cerebral infarction, the infarcted core and the penumbra have decreased perfusion (pictured).[31]
Dynamic contrast enhanced DCE Measuring shortening of the spin–lattice relaxation (T1) induced by a gadolinium contrast bolus[32]
Arterial spin labelling ASL Magnetic labeling of arterial blood below the imaging slab, which subsequently enters the region of interest[33] It does not need gadolinium contrast.[34]
Functional MRI (fMRI) Blood-oxygen-level dependent imaging BOLD Changes in oxygen saturation-dependent magnetism of hemoglobin reflects tissue activity.[35] Localizing highly active brain areas before surgery, also used in research of cognition[36]
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and venography Time-of-flight TOF Blood entering the imaged area is not yet magnetically saturated, giving it a much higher signal when using short echo time and flow compensation. Detection of aneurysm, stenosis, or dissection[37]
Phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging PC-MRA Two gradients with equal magnitude, but opposite direction, are used to encode a phase shift, which is proportional to the velocity of spins.[38] Detection of aneurysm, stenosis, or dissection (pictured)[37]
(VIPR)
Susceptibility-weighted SWI Sensitive for blood and calcium, by a fully flow compensated, long echo, gradient recalled echo (GRE) pulse sequence to exploit magnetic susceptibility differences between tissues Detecting small amounts of hemorrhage (diffuse axonal injury pictured) or calcium[39]

## MRI scanner

### Construction and operation

Schematic of construction of a cylindrical superconducting MR scanner

The major components of an MRI scanner are: the main magnet, which polarizes the sample, the shim coils for correcting inhomogeneities in the main magnetic field, the gradient system which is used to localize the MR signal and the RF system, which excites the sample and detects the resulting NMR signal. The whole system is controlled by one or more computers.

### Magnet

The magnet is the largest and most expensive component of the scanner, and the remainder of the scanner is built around it. The strength of the magnet is measured in teslas (T). Clinical magnets generally have a field strength in the range 0.1–3.0 T, with research systems available up to 9.4 T for human use and 21 T for animal systems.[40] In the United States, field strengths up to 4 T have been approved by the FDA for clinical use.[41]

Just as important as the strength of the main magnet is its precision. The straightness of the magnetic lines within the center (or, as it is technically known, the iso-center) of the magnet needs to be near-perfect. This is known as homogeneity. Fluctuations (inhomogeneities in the field strength) within the scan region should be less than three parts per million (3 ppm). Three types of magnets have been used:

• Permanent magnet: Conventional magnets made from ferromagnetic materials (e.g., steel alloys containing rare-earth elements such as neodymium) can be used to provide the static magnetic field. A permanent magnet that is powerful enough to be used in an MRI will be extremely large and bulky; they can weigh over 100 tonnes. Permanent magnet MRIs are very inexpensive to maintain; this cannot be said of the other types of MRI magnets, but there are significant drawbacks to using permanent magnets. They are only capable of achieving weak field strengths compared to other MRI magnets (usually less than 0.4 T) and they are of limited precision and stability. Permanent magnets also present special safety issues; since their magnetic fields cannot be "turned off," ferromagnetic objects are virtually impossible to remove from them once they come into direct contact. Permanent magnets also require special care when they are being brought to their site of installation.
• Resistive electromagnet: A solenoid wound from copper wire is an alternative to a permanent magnet. An advantage is low initial cost, but field strength and stability are limited. The electromagnet requires considerable electrical energy during operation which can make it expensive to operate. This design is essentially obsolete.
• Superconducting electromagnet: When a niobium-titanium or niobium-tin alloy is cooled by liquid helium to 4 K (−269 °C, −452 °F) it becomes a superconductor, losing resistance to flow of electric current. An electromagnet constructed with superconductors can have extremely high field strengths, with very high stability. The construction of such magnets is extremely costly, and the cryogenic helium is expensive and difficult to handle. However, despite their cost, helium cooled superconducting magnets are the most common type found in MRI scanners today.

Most superconducting magnets have their coils of superconductive wire immersed in liquid helium, inside a vessel called a cryostat. Despite thermal insulation, sometimes including a second cryostat containing liquid nitrogen, ambient heat causes the helium to slowly boil off. Such magnets, therefore, require regular topping-up with liquid helium. Generally a cryocooler, also known as a coldhead, is used to recondense some helium vapor back into the liquid helium bath. Several manufacturers now offer 'cryogenless' scanners, where instead of being immersed in liquid helium the magnet wire is cooled directly by a cryocooler.[42]

Magnets are available in a variety of shapes. However, permanent magnets are most frequently 'C' shaped, and superconducting magnets most frequently cylindrical. However, C-shaped superconducting magnets and box-shaped permanent magnets have also been used.

Magnetic field strength is an important factor in determining image quality. Higher magnetic fields increase signal-to-noise ratio, permitting higher resolution or faster scanning. However, higher field strengths require more costly magnets with higher maintenance costs, and have increased safety concerns. A field strength of 1.0–1.5 T is a good compromise between cost and performance for general medical use. However, for certain specialist uses (e.g., brain imaging) higher field strengths are desirable, with some hospitals now using 3.0 T scanners.

FID signal from a badly shimmed sample has a complex envelope.
FID signal from a well shimmed sample, showing a pure exponential decay.

### Shims

When the MR scanner is placed in the hospital or clinic, its main magnetic field is far from being homogeneous enough to be used for scanning. That is why before doing fine tuning of the field using a sample, the magnetic field of the magnet must be measured and shimmed.

After a sample is placed into the scanner, the main magnetic field is distorted by susceptibility boundaries within that sample, causing signal dropout (regions showing no signal) and spatial distortions in acquired images. For humans or animals the effect is particularly pronounced at air-tissue boundaries such as the sinuses (due to paramagnetic oxygen in air) making, for example, the frontal lobes of the brain difficult to image. To restore field homogeneity a set of shim coils is included in the scanner. These are resistive coils, usually at room temperature, capable of producing field corrections distributed as several orders of spherical harmonics.[43]

After placing the sample in the scanner, the B0 field is 'shimmed' by adjusting currents in the shim coils. Field homogeneity is measured by examining an FID signal in the absence of field gradients. The FID from a poorly shimmed sample will show a complex decay envelope, often with many humps. Shim currents are then adjusted to produce a large amplitude exponentially decaying FID, indicating a homogeneous B0 field. The process is usually automated.[44]

Gradient coils are used to spatially encode the positions of protons by varying the magnetic field linearly across the imaging volume. The Larmor frequency will then vary as a function of position in the x, y and z-axes.

Gradient coils are usually resistive electromagnets powered by sophisticated amplifiers which permit rapid and precise adjustments to their field strength and direction. Typical gradient systems are capable of producing gradients from 20–100 mT/m (i.e., in a 1.5 T magnet, when a maximal z-axis gradient is applied, the field strength may be 1.45 T at one end of a 1 m long bore and 1.55 T at the other[45]). It is the magnetic gradients that determine the plane of imaging—because the orthogonal gradients can be combined freely, any plane can be selected for imaging.

Scan speed is dependent on performance of the gradient system. Stronger gradients allow for faster imaging, or for higher resolution; similarly, gradient systems capable of faster switching can also permit faster scanning. However, gradient performance is limited by safety concerns over nerve stimulation.

The receiver consists of the coil, pre-amplifier and signal processing system. The RF electromagnetic radiation produced by nuclear relaxation inside the subject is true EM radiation (radio waves), and these leave the subject as RF radiation, but they are of such low power as to also not cause appreciable RF interference that can be picked up by nearby radio tuners (in addition, MRI scanners are generally situated in metal mesh lined rooms which act as Faraday cages.)

While it is possible to scan using the integrated coil for RF transmission and MR signal reception, if a small region is being imaged, then better image quality (i.e., higher signal-to-noise ratio) is obtained by using a close-fitting smaller coil. A variety of coils are available which fit closely around parts of the body such as the head, knee, wrist, breast, or internally, e.g., the rectum.

A recent development in MRI technology has been the development of sophisticated multi-element phased array[47] coils which are capable of acquiring multiple channels of data in parallel. This 'parallel imaging' technique uses unique acquisition schemes that allow for accelerated imaging, by replacing some of the spatial coding originating from the magnetic gradients with the spatial sensitivity of the different coil elements. However, the increased acceleration also reduces the signal-to-noise ratio and can create residual artifacts in the image reconstruction. Two frequently used parallel acquisition and reconstruction schemes are known as SENSE[48] and GRAPPA.[49] A detailed review of parallel imaging techniques can be found here:[50]

## References

1. ^ Bagwell S, Ledger PD, Gil AJ, Mallett M, Kruip M (December 2017). "A linearised hp–finite element framework for acousto‐magneto‐mechanical coupling in axisymmetric MRI scanners". International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 112 (10): 1323–52. doi:10.1002/nme.5559.
2. ^
3. ^ Callaghan P (1994). Principles of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Microscopy. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-853997-5.
4. ^ Page 26 in: Weishaupt D, Koechli VD, Marincek B (2013). How does MRI work?: An Introduction to the Physics and Function of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-3-662-07805-1.
5. ^ Poustchi-Amin M, Mirowitz SA, Brown JJ, McKinstry RC, Li T (2000). "Principles and applications of echo-planar imaging: a review for the general radiologist". Radiographics. 21 (3): 767–79. doi:10.1148/radiographics.21.3.g01ma23767. PMID 11353123.
6. ^ Feinberg DA, Moeller S, Smith SM, Auerbach E, Ramanna S, Gunther M, Glasser MF, Miller KL, Ugurbil K, Yacoub E (December 2010). "Multiplexed echo planar imaging for sub-second whole brain FMRI and fast diffusion imaging". PLOS One. 5 (12): e15710. Bibcode:2010PLoSO...515710F. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0015710. PMC 3004955. PMID 21187930.
7. ^ Weinmann HJ, Brasch RC, Press WR, Wesbey GE (March 1984). "Characteristics of gadolinium-DTPA complex: a potential NMR contrast agent". AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology. 142 (3): 619–24. doi:10.2214/ajr.142.3.619. PMID 6607655.
8. ^ Laniado M, Weinmann HJ, Schörner W, Felix R, Speck U (1984). "First use of GdDTPA/dimeglumine in man". Physiological Chemistry and Physics and Medical NMR. 16 (2): 157–65. PMID 6505042.
9. ^ Widder DJ, Greif WL, Widder KJ, Edelman RR, Brady TJ (February 1987). "Magnetite albumin microspheres: a new MR contrast material". AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology. 148 (2): 399–404. doi:10.2214/ajr.148.2.399. PMID 3492120.
10. ^ Weissleder R, Elizondo G, Wittenberg J, Rabito CA, Bengele HH, Josephson L (May 1990). "Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide: characterization of a new class of contrast agents for MR imaging". Radiology. 175 (2): 489–93. doi:10.1148/radiology.175.2.2326474. PMID 2326474.
11. ^ Ljunggren S (1983). "A simple graphical representation of Fourier-based imaging methods". Journal of Magnetic Resonance. 54 (2): 338–343. Bibcode:1983JMagR..54..338L. doi:10.1016/0022-2364(83)90060-4.
12. ^ Twieg DB (1983). "The k-trajectory formulation of the NMR imaging process with applications in analysis and synthesis of imaging methods". Medical Physics. 10 (5): 610–21. Bibcode:1983MedPh..10..610T. doi:10.1118/1.595331. PMID 6646065.
13. ^ a b c d "Magnetic Resonance Imaging". University of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
14. ^ a b c d Johnson KA. "Basic proton MR imaging. Tissue Signal Characteristics". Harvard Medical School. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
15. ^ Graham D, Cloke P, Vosper M (2011-05-31). Principles and Applications of Radiological Physics E-Book (6 ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-7020-4614-8.}
16. ^ du Plessis V, Jones J. "MRI sequences (overview)". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
17. ^ Lefevre N, Naouri JF, Herman S, Gerometta A, Klouche S, Bohu Y (2016). "A Current Review of the Meniscus Imaging: Proposition of a Useful Tool for Its Radiologic Analysis". Radiology Research and Practice. 2016: 8329296. doi:10.1155/2016/8329296. PMID 27057352.
18. ^ a b Luijkx T, Weerakkody Y. "Steady-state free precession MRI". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
19. ^ a b Chavhan GB, Babyn PS, Thomas B, Shroff MM, Haacke EM (2009). "Principles, techniques, and applications of T2*-based MR imaging and its special applications". Radiographics. 29 (5): 1433–49. doi:10.1148/rg.295095034. PMID 19755604.
20. ^ Sharma R, Taghi Niknejad M. "Short tau inversion recovery". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
21. ^ Berger F, de Jonge M, Smithuis R, Maas M. "Stress fractures". Radiology Assistant. Radiology Society of the Netherlands. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
22. ^ Hacking C, Taghi Niknejad M, et al. "Fluid attenuation inversion recoveryg". radiopaedia.org. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
23. ^ a b Di Muzio B, Abd Rabou A. "Double inversion recovery sequence". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
24. ^ Lee M, Bashir U. "Diffusion weighted imaging". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
25. ^ Weerakkody Y, Gaillard F. "Ischaemic stroke". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
26. ^ Hammer M. "MRI Physics: Diffusion-Weighted Imaging". XRayPhysics. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
27. ^ An H, Ford AL, Vo K, Powers WJ, Lee JM, Lin W (May 2011). "Signal evolution and infarction risk for apparent diffusion coefficient lesions in acute ischemic stroke are both time- and perfusion-dependent". Stroke. 42 (5): 1276–81. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.610501. PMID 21454821.
28. ^ a b Smith D, Bashir U. "Diffusion tensor imaging". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
29. ^ Chua TC, Wen W, Slavin MJ, Sachdev PS (February 2008). "Diffusion tensor imaging in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a review". Current Opinion in Neurology. 21 (1): 83–92. doi:10.1097/WCO.0b013e3282f4594b. PMID 18180656.
30. ^ Gaillard F. "Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MR perfusion". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
31. ^ Chen F, Ni YC (March 2012). "Magnetic resonance diffusion-perfusion mismatch in acute ischemic stroke: An update". World Journal of Radiology. 4 (3): 63–74. doi:10.4329/wjr.v4.i3.63. PMID 22468186.
32. ^ Gaillard F. "Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MR perfusion". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
33. ^ "Arterial spin labeling". University of Michigan. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
34. ^ Gaillard F. "Arterial spin labelling (ASL) MR perfusion". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
35. ^ Chou I. "Milestone 19: (1990) Functional MRI". Nature. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
36. ^ Luijkx T, Gaillard F. "Functional MRI". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
37. ^ a b "Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)". Johns Hopkins Hospital. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
38. ^ Keshavamurthy J, Ballinger R et al. "Phase contrast imaging". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
39. ^ Di Muzio B, Gaillard F. "Susceptibility weighted imaging". Retrieved 2017-10-15.
40. ^
41. ^ Duggan-Jahns, Terry. "The Evolution of Magnetic Resonance Imaging: 3T MRI in Clinical Applications". eRADIMAGING.com. eRADIMAGING.com. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
42. ^ Obasih KM, Mruzek (1996). "Thermal design and analysis of a cryogenless superconducting magnet for interventional MRI therapy". In Timmerhaus KD. Proceedings of the 1995 cryogenic engineering conference. New York: Plenum Press. pp. 305–312. ISBN 978-0-306-45300-7.
43. ^ Chen CN, Hoult DH (1989). Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Technology. Medical Sciences. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-85274-118-4.
44. ^ Gruetter R (June 1993). "Automatic, localized in vivo adjustment of all first- and second-order shim coils". Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. 29 (6): 804–11. doi:10.1002/mrm.1910290613. PMID 8350724.
45. ^ This unrealistically assumes that the gradient is linear out to the end of the magnet bore. While this assumption is fine for pedagogical purposes, in most commercial MRI systems the gradient droops significantly after a much smaller distance; indeed, the decrease in the gradient field is the main delimiter of the useful field of view of a modern commercial MRI system.
46. ^ Oppelt A (2006). Imaging Systems for Medical Diagnostics: Fundamentals, Technical Solutions and Applications for Systems Applying Ionizing Radiation, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Ultrasound. Wiley-VCH. p. 566. ISBN 978-3-89578-226-8.
47. ^ Roemer PB, Edelstein WA, Hayes CE, Souza SP, Mueller OM (November 1990). "The NMR phased array". Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. 16 (2): 192–225. doi:10.1002/mrm.1910160203. PMID 2266841.
48. ^ Pruessmann KP, Weiger M, Scheidegger MB, Boesiger P (November 1999). "SENSE: sensitivity encoding for fast MRI". Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. 42 (5): 952–62. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1522-2594(199911)42:5<952::AID-MRM16>3.0.CO;2-S. PMID 10542355.
49. ^ Griswold MA, Jakob PM, Heidemann RM, Nittka M, Jellus V, Wang J, Kiefer B, Haase A (June 2002). "Generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA)". Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. 47 (6): 1202–10. doi:10.1002/mrm.10171. PMID 12111967.
50. ^ Blaimer M, Breuer F, Mueller M, Heidemann RM, Griswold MA, Jakob PM (2004). "SMASH, SENSE, PILS, GRAPPA: How to Choose the Optimal Method" (PDF). Topics in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 15 (4): 223–236. doi:10.1097/01.rmr.0000136558.09801.dd.