Principles of MRI, The
Basics
E. Russell Ritenour, Ph.D.
This course covers the fundamental principles of magnetic resonance imaging. Starting with the origin of the net magnetic moment that occurs in some nuclei the course goes on to explain the interaction of magnetic moments with static and changing magnetic fields. Relaxation phenomena are described and are related to both microscopic and macroscopic (bulk) behavior of magnetic moments. The ability to manipulate magnetic moments so as to obtain a coherent signal from a sample is explained in terms of fundamental physics principles and also in terms of the hardware that is employed in magnetic resonance imaging. Techniques that allow spatial localization of signals in terms of frequency, phase, and slice selection are also explained. Finally, the main system components, the three types of system magnets, sending and receiving coils, radiofrequency equipment, and computer requirements are described.