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The use of MRI is to measure the characteristics of these changes in magnetization along the
longitudinal and transverse directions during the decay of resonance.
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At resonance, net transverse magnetisation and this induces a signal within an RF detector.
Switch off the RF pulse transverse magnetisation decrease and the emitted signal along
the transverse plane will grow weaker.
Relaxation is the process where the overall magnetisation vector M recovers to its
equilibrium state when the RF pulse is switched off.
T1 Relaxation
- Time taken for approximately 63% of the longitudinal magnetisation to be restored
- Nuclei must lose the excess energy to return back to the lowest energy state (spinup)
- Hence T1 depends on the how fast the excess energy is dissipated to the lattice,
which depends on local chemistry.
T2 Relaxation
- Time taken for approximately 63% decrease in the transverse component of
magnetisation
- Depends on 2 factors:
o How fast the nuclei spins return back to their spin up position
o How well the collection of nuclei maintain their coherence, hence the time
taken for precession decoherence
- Precessing in phase Coherent precession
- If nuclei were in random points in precession Decoherence
- Initial coherence become decoherent due to variations in the local magnetic field
which cause a change in the Larmour frequency which depends on local chemistry
T2 is always shorter than T1 (why?)
The best signal is obtained by choosing the signal which gives the best contrast.
Principles of MRI analyse the tissue type by measuring the T1 and T2 relaxation time after
switching off the RF pulse. Different tissues have different T1 and T2 relaxation time.
Volume selection to achieve the nuclear resonance in a small volume, additional coils
produce a much smaller magnetic fields and are superimposed to the main field. As a result,
a gradient field is created and the larmor frequency varies in different volumes.
MRI contrast agents used for more sensitive imaging in areas of similar tissue types.
Usually, the contrast agent is paramagnetic and it changes the localised magnetic field
which changes the T2 relaxation time for H nuclei.
MRI Safety
1. No evidence that MRI has any harmful side effects
2. Large static magnetic fields are not harmful
3. RF radiation are non-ionising as they have frequency lower than optical photons
4. However, main risks come from the huge magnetic fields which will affect (i) metal
implants within body and (ii) metal objects. (Mitigate risks by proper precautions!)
MRI Advantages
1. MRI systems do not se ioninsing radiaiti, low incidence of side effects
2. MRI can image in any plane, unlike CT
3. High resolution
MRI Disadvantages
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