Maricopa Community Colleges  ICE264   20076-20076 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 05/22/07
ICE264 20076-20076 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
MRI Physics, Instrumentation and Safety
An overview into the physics, equipment, physical design, and image characteristics of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems.
Prerequisites: Graduate radiologic technologist American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (A.R.R.T.), graduate Nuclear Medicine Technologist, or permission of Instructor.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
ICE264   20076-20076 MRI Physics, Instrumentation and Safety
1. Describe the terminology associated with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). (I)
2. Explain the physical properties and interactions that occur with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). (II)
3. Identify and explain the potential physical and biological hazards associated with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). (III)
4. Discuss safety guidelines for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging facility. (III)
5. Specify the ideal physical location and electromagnetic and magnetic shielding consideration in the design and construction of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facility. (III, IV, V)
6. Identify and explain specific factors that influence the quality of magnetic resonance images. (VI, VII, VIII, XXIII, XXV)
7. Identify and explain the image characteristics seen in a magnetic resonance image. (VIII)
8. Describe the components of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system to include specific types of magnets, coils, image display and recording systems. (IX-XIV)
9. Identify factors involved in formation of MRI images. (XIII- XXI)
10. Describe the applications, dosages, administration, and benefits of using contrast media during magnetic resonance procedures. (XXII)
11. Explain the considerations for the display, recording and archiving of images. (XXIV)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
ICE264   20076-20076 MRI Physics, Instrumentation and Safety
    I. Fundamentals
        A. Historical Perspective
        B. Electromagnetic Spectrum
        C. Contrast Resolution
        D. Spatial Resolution
        E. Multi-planar Imaging
        F. Net Magnetization
        G. Spin and Precession
        H. Magnetic Field Measurement: Gauss and Tesla
        I. Larmor Frequency and Equation
        J. Resonance
        K. Free Induction Decay
        L. Fourier Transformation
      II. Electricity and Magnetism
          A. Electric Field
          B. Ohm's Law
          C. Faraday's Law of Induction
          D. Magnetic Moment
          E. Laws of Magnetism
          F. Magnetic Field
          G. Parallel vs. Anti-parallel Proton Alignment
        III. Safety in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Facility
            A. Physical Effects
              1. Fringe Field
              2. "Ferrous" vs. "Non-ferrous" Materials
            B. Biological Effects
              1. Patient
                a. Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS)
                b. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
                c. Pregnancy
              2. Healthcare Worker
            C. Safety Screening Forms
            D. MRI Facility Safety Guidelines
            E. Where to find up-to-date MRI Safety information
          IV. Nuclear Magnetism
              A. Magnetization Vectors
              B. Control of Net Magnetization
              C. Stationary and Rotating Reference Frames
            V. Equilibrium-Saturation
                A. Net Magnetization Equilibrium
                B. Flip Angle
                C. Radio-frequency (RF) Pulses
                D. Pulse Sequence Diagrams
              VI. Radiofrequency Pulse Sequences
                  A. Spin Echo
                  B. Rapid Spin Echo
                  C. Inversion Recovery
                  D. Gradient Echo
                  E. Echo Planar Imaging
                  F. Time-to-Echo (TE)
                  G. Time-to-Repetition (TR)
                VII. Imaging Parameters
                    A. Proton (Spin) Density
                    B. T1 Relaxation
                    C. T2 Relaxation
                    D. Phase Coherence
                    E. T2* Relaxation (Decay)
                    F. Magnetic properties
                  VIII. How to Measure Relaxation Times
                      A. How to Measure T2
                      B. How to Measure T1
                      C. T1 vs. T2 Measurements
                      D. Image Contrast Parameters
                    IX. Fourier Transformation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
                        A. K-Space fundamentals
                        B. 2- and 3-dimensional Fourier Transforms
                        C. Sampling and Aliasing Image Artifacts
                      X. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Hardware
                          A. Gantry/Bore
                          B. Operating Console
                          C. Computer System
                        XI. Primary Magnetic Resonance Imaging Magnets
                            A. Permanent
                            B. Resistive
                            C. Superconducting
                            D. Imaging differences between Low, Mid and High Field Magnetic Field Strengths
                          XII. Secondary Magnetic Resonance Imaging Magnets
                              A. Shim Coils
                                1. Parts-per-Million Scale
                                2. Importance of Magnet Shimming
                              B. Gradient Coils
                                1. X,Y, and Z Gradient Coils
                                2. Combined Gradient Coil Utilization
                                3. Slew Rate
                              C. Radiofrequency (RF) Probe
                                1. Quadrature Coils
                                2. Body Coils
                                3. Head/Extremity Coils
                                4. Surface Coils
                                5. Phased-Array Technology
                            XIII. Image Formation: Digital Imaging
                                A. Dynamic Range
                                B. Sampling
                                C. Spatial Resolution
                                  1. Imaging Matrix Size
                                  2. Pixel Size
                                  3. Voxel Size
                                  4. Field-of-View
                                  5. 2 vs. 3-dimensional imaging
                              XIV. Image Formation: Frequency Domain
                                  A. Spatial Frequency
                                  B. Signal-to-Noise Ratio
                                  C. Receiver Bandwidth
                                  D. K-Space filling patterns
                                XV. The "Musical Score" of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
                                    A. Phase Encoding
                                    B. Frequency Encoding
                                    C. Slice Encoding
                                    D. Pulse Sequence Diagrams
                                  XVI. Magnetic Resonance Images
                                      A. Pixel Character
                                      B. T1-weighted images
                                      C. T2-weighted images
                                      D. T2*-weighted images
                                      E. Flow images
                                      F. TR, TE, and Flip Angle Guidelines
                                    XVII. Imaging Pulse Sequences: Spin Echo Based
                                        A. Spin Echo Pulse Sequence
                                        B. Rapid Spin Echo Pulse Sequences
                                        C. Echo Spacing
                                        D. Inversion-Recovery Pulse Sequences
                                        E. Pulse Sequence Applications
                                      XVIII. Chemical Shift and Magnetization Transfer
                                          A. Fat/Water Chemical Shift
                                          B. Chemical Shift Artifacts
                                          C. Magnetization Transfer Effects
                                        XIX. Imaging Pulse Sequences: Gradient Echo Based
                                            A. Gradient-Echo Pulse Sequences
                                            B. T2 vs. T2*
                                            C. Steady-State
                                            D. Ernst Angle
                                            E. Pulse Sequence Applications
                                          XX. Faster Imaging Techniques
                                              A. "Turbo" Imaging
                                              B. Gradient and Spin Echo Based "Fast" Techniques
                                              C. K-Space filling patterns for "Fast" Techniques
                                              D. Pulse Sequence Applications
                                            XXI. Echo Planar Imaging
                                                A. K-Space filling patterns for Echo Planar Imaging
                                                B. Hardware Requirements
                                                C. Pulse Sequence Applications
                                              XXII. Contrast Agents in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
                                                  A. Types of Contrast Agents in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
                                                    1. Gadolinium
                                                    2. Clay-based
                                                    3. Iron-based
                                                    4. Plasma-based
                                                  B. Purpose of Contrast Agents
                                                  C. Clinical Applications
                                                XXIII. Magnetic Resonance Artifacts
                                                    A. Magnetic and Radiofrequency Field Artifacts
                                                    B. Distortion Artifacts
                                                    C. System Related
                                                    D. Reconstruction Artifacts
                                                    E. Noise-Induced Artifacts
                                                    F. Quality Assurance
                                                  XXIV. Image Display, Recording and Archiving
                                                      A. Laser Printer
                                                      B. Workstation
                                                      C. Networking
                                                      D. CD/DVD Storage
                                                    XXV. Purchase Decision and Site Selection
                                                        A. Selecting the imaging System
                                                          1. Type of Magnet
                                                          2. Performance Evaluation
                                                        B. Location of Magnetic Resonance Imaging System
                                                          1. Effects of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging System in the Facility
                                                          2. Effects of the Facility on the Magnetic Resonance Imaging System
                                                          3. Locating the Facility
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