PHAR280_Lecture Notes Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

docx

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

- Uses non-ionizing radiation to probe the soft tissue contrast

- Provides excellent soft tissue contrast
- An anatomical imaging technique
(Inflammations, lesions, tumor formation, muscle injury)
- Contrast agents à enhances MR signal to investigate joints
(Gd injection)

Physics of MRI
Uses electromagnetic waves at radiofrequency (50-60 MHz)

Charged electron spinning around the axis

- Creation of 2 poles

- Magnetic dipole moment

Non-magnetic
-
Because all moments facing different directions

Magnet

S N
All moments are at the same
direction

1. All spinning nuclei have a characteristic resonance frequency which depends on

the atomic composition

2. When atoms are combined to form larger molecules, their overall resonance

frequency depends on their total weight

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PHAR280_Lecture Notes Magnetic Resonance Imaging.docx

Nuclear Magnetic Resistance Spectroscopy (NMRS)

Different proportion of molecules

è Different spinning frequency

Larmor Frequency
ω = γ β0
ω = 2π f

γ: gyromagnetic ratio

β0: applied magnetic field

Each molecule starts to rotate according to gyromagnetic ratio, resulting in ωA, ωB,

ωC, and ωD.

IA
A% ∝ × 100
IT
IT = I A + I B + IC + I D

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PHAR280_Lecture Notes Magnetic Resonance Imaging.docx

PG Re

PG: Pulse Generator

Re: Receiver

B1

S N

B0

1. Place the sample inside a static magnetic field (B0)

2. Close S1 (off S2)

à Generate a B1 ┴ B0, B1 << B0 at a specific “ω0”

3. Off S1, on S2

à Listen to incoming signal

Free Induction Decay, which is a signal like this:

FID

τ
A

A ∝ the amount of compound present within the sample

τ ∝ the density of compound present within the sample

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PHAR280_Lecture Notes Magnetic Resonance Imaging.docx

Imaging In MR

Idea: Image 3-D object according to the distribution of H+ ion

Each cube is called a voxel.

Min resolution: 1 mm x 1 mm x

1 mm

H + → γ H+
BT ↑=ωT ↑

Srec

Rec PC Display

SX SY
PGX PGY

S N
SZ
PGZ

PG require high current to operate

High current means heat generation à cooling system is necessary

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PHAR280_Lecture Notes Magnetic Resonance Imaging.docx

Functional MRI (fMRI)

- Used only for research

- Measurement of physiological changes in human body

(Manic depressive – normal brain)

It uses hemoglobin molecule to trace the functional activity level of the brain.

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