Magnetic Resonance Imaging I – Basic Principles and Applications

Learning Outcomes

Participants will learn the basic principles and the instrumentation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Basic measurement techniques (MR-sequences) and the related image contrast mechanisms will be studied. The mathematical framework is developed to describe image encoding, the point-spread function (PSF), signal-to-noise ratio and contrast mechanism of MRI. Python exercises and homework are used to deepen the understanding of the basic concepts.

Content

History of MRI, physical principle, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Effect, relaxation phenomena and chemical shift, spatial localisation and imaging, k-space formalism, basic pulse sequences (gradient and spin echo), contrast manipulation, fast imaging sequences, motion compensation, instrumentation and safety, signal-to-noise ratio, image-quality, artefacts, clinical applications and research.

 

Lecture Schedule (20.10.2021 - 23.02.2022)

 

No.

Who

When

 

What

1

Tobias Schäffter

20.10

L

History of Biomedical Imaging and Intro MRI

2

Tobias Schäffter

27.10

L

NMR-Effect, equation of motion, Bloch equation (homework 1)

3

Tobias Schäffter

3.11

L

NMR Spectroscopy

frequency selective excitation (homework 2),

X-nuclei (H, P, C), Chemical Shift, J-coupling

4

Sebastian Schmitter

10.11

L

Spatial Encoding I - Slice-Selective excitation, excitation k-space, rf-pulse design (homework3)

5

Tobias Schäffter

17.11

L

Spatial Encoding II - signal equation, k-space, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, phase encoding, frequency encoding (homework 4)

6

Tobias Schäffter

24.11

L

Relaxation, measurement of relaxation times: Spin-Echo, Inversion Recovery (homework 5)

7

Tobias Schäffter

1.12

L

Spin-Echo and gradient echo MRI, image contrast (homework 6) 

8

Christoph Kolbitsch

8.12

L

Transient Echo

9

Tobias Schäffter

15.12

L

Steady State, SSFP Imaging (homework 7)

10

Tobias Schäffter

12.01

L

Fast MRI, TSE, EPI

11

Christoph Kolbitsch

19.01

E

MRI, PSF, Contrast, Steady State (homework8)

12

Christoph Kolbitsch

26.01

L

Phase-Diagram

13

Tobias Schäffter

02.02

L

Image quality, SNR, Artefacts (homework9)

14

Lukas Winter

09.02

L

Hardware, Magnet, Gradients, RF-coils, Spectrometer, SNR

15

Lukas Winter

16.02

L

MRI Safety, SAR (homework 10)

16

ALL

23.02

 

Visit MR-Scanner RF-coil lab

 

Type of portfolio examination

homework, individual examination with a written and oral part

 

Test elements

Name

Points

Category

Duration/Extent

Homework 

25

written

report provided by groups

 

Examination- written part

25

written

10min one exercise question (similar to homework)

Examination - oral part

50

oral

20min 2-3  comprehension (MR-physics) questions (30points), 1 derivation question (MR-Physics, Math) 20 points

 

 

Grading scale

1.0

1.3

1.7

2.0

2.3

2.7

3.0

3.3

3.7

4.0

95.0

90.0

85.0

80.0

75.0

70.0

65.0

60.0

55.0

50.0